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Report: Former Knicks coach Mike Miller to join OKC Thunder staff

Joe Mussatto
by Joe Mussatto
Published: Wed, November 25, 2020 10:56 AM Updated: Wed, November 25, 2020 11:03 AM

Former Knicks interim head coach Mike Miller will join Mark Daigneault's Thunder staff, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday. 

Miller, not the former NBA sharpshooter of the same name, went 17-27 as Knicks head coach last season. He took over last December when New York fired David Fizdale. 

Miller, 56, grew up in Monmouth, Illinois. After playing college basketball at East Texas State (now Texas A&M University-Commerce), Miller started his coaching career in 1989 as an assistant at Western Illinois. 

He landed his first head coaching job at Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) in 1994. The Bobcats went 87-79 in Miller's six seasons. He led the program to its second NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997. 

After five seasons as an assistant at Kansas State, Miller received his second head coaching opportunity in 2005 at Eastern Illinois. 

The Panthers went 75-130 and 45-85 in the Ohio Valley Conference in Miller's seven seasons. 

Miller was named head coach of the G League Westchester Knicks in 2015. He won G League Coach of the Year in 2018. 

After four seasons with Westchester, Miller was promoted to a Knicks assistant in 2019. He was named interim head coach in his first season on staff. 

Daigneault, since being named Thunder head coach two weeks ago, has said assembling his staff is among his top priorities. 

"We’re looking for people who have a certain mindset," Daigneault said, "and that are going to follow our method and that are going to completely embrace the strategic vision of the organization and invest in the players." 

Related Photos
Feb 12, 2020; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Miller coaches against the Washington Wizards during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 12, 2020; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Miller coaches against the Washington Wizards during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams hold their jerseys during a press conference at the Thunder Events center, Saturday, July 29, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Steven Adams made his Thunder debut Sunday in Orlando. He scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. Photo by Sarah Phipps The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) celebrates from the bench during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The Thunder is using Enes Kanter, left, and Steven Adams in the offense more than ever, from passing to running the fast break. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN]
Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams misses a dunk over Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson during Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis. The Pacers whipped Oklahoma City, 111-85. [AP Photo/Michael Conroy]
Oklahoma City's Steven Adams goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia's Joel Embiid during Monday night's game. Adams scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in OKC's 120-113 loss. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum]
+4+7Boston's Enes Kanter, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during Sunday's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kanter, a former Thunder player, remains a fan favorite in Oklahoma City. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman]
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a4ebc20b6378deca9f8a2edaef90d051.jpg" alt="Photo - Feb 12, 2020; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Miller coaches against the Washington Wizards during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports" title="Feb 12, 2020; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Miller coaches against the Washington Wizards during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports"><figcaption>Feb 12, 2020; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Miller coaches against the Washington Wizards during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-5fc2f4d01fdd4a93724e6bfc33b50004.jpg" alt="Photo - Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams hold their jerseys during a press conference at the Thunder Events center, Saturday, July 29, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman" title="Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams hold their jerseys during a press conference at the Thunder Events center, Saturday, July 29, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Grant Jerrett, Andre Roberson and Steven Adams hold their jerseys during a press conference at the Thunder Events center, Saturday, July 29, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-8a13c5242e480ca975e22dbb2f95d8aa.jpg" alt="Photo - Steven Adams made his Thunder debut Sunday in Orlando. He scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. Photo by Sarah Phipps The Oklahoman" title="Steven Adams made his Thunder debut Sunday in Orlando. He scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. Photo by Sarah Phipps The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Steven Adams made his Thunder debut Sunday in Orlando. He scored two points and grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes. Photo by Sarah Phipps The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-548d8a45b739da5c8bc9a511997bc76d.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) celebrates from the bench during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman " title="Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) celebrates from the bench during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman "><figcaption>Oklahoma City's Steven Adams (12) celebrates from the bench during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-06b5080e7d430f26cb5b547bf44f5437.jpg" alt="Photo - The Thunder is using Enes Kanter, left, and Steven Adams in the offense more than ever, from passing to running the fast break. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN] " title=" The Thunder is using Enes Kanter, left, and Steven Adams in the offense more than ever, from passing to running the fast break. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN] "><figcaption> The Thunder is using Enes Kanter, left, and Steven Adams in the offense more than ever, from passing to running the fast break. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-1b0634556cb2acbb24b14884e5cdff65.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams misses a dunk over Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson during Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis. The Pacers whipped Oklahoma City, 111-85. [AP Photo/Michael Conroy] " title=" Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams misses a dunk over Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson during Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis. The Pacers whipped Oklahoma City, 111-85. [AP Photo/Michael Conroy] "><figcaption> Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams misses a dunk over Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson during Tuesday night's game in Indianapolis. The Pacers whipped Oklahoma City, 111-85. [AP Photo/Michael Conroy] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-b1e0081e9198132ce16ef5e4ade27224.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City's Steven Adams goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia's Joel Embiid during Monday night's game. Adams scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in OKC's 120-113 loss. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum] " title=" Oklahoma City's Steven Adams goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia's Joel Embiid during Monday night's game. Adams scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in OKC's 120-113 loss. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum] "><figcaption> Oklahoma City's Steven Adams goes up for a dunk over Philadelphia's Joel Embiid during Monday night's game. Adams scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in OKC's 120-113 loss. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-ef20a69017246609f746e1eed172f4df.jpg" alt="Photo - Boston's Enes Kanter, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during Sunday's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kanter, a former Thunder player, remains a fan favorite in Oklahoma City. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] " title=" Boston's Enes Kanter, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during Sunday's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kanter, a former Thunder player, remains a fan favorite in Oklahoma City. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption> Boston's Enes Kanter, right, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during Sunday's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kanter, a former Thunder player, remains a fan favorite in Oklahoma City. [Nate Billings/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-41237ffe4eb5987b71d7a9438c9f3dcf.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, right, celebrates a basket from half-court near the end of the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at Smoothie King Center. The Thunder won 123-118. [AP Photo/Matthew Hinton] " title=" Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, right, celebrates a basket from half-court near the end of the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at Smoothie King Center. The Thunder won 123-118. [AP Photo/Matthew Hinton] "><figcaption> Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, right, celebrates a basket from half-court near the end of the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night at Smoothie King Center. The Thunder won 123-118. [AP Photo/Matthew Hinton] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-7a334ae5e90582d3d0aa79d7e4d57519.jpg" alt="Photo - Oklahoma City's Steven Adams gets ready to dunk the basketball beside San Antonio's Marco Belinelli and Lonnie Walker IV during Sunday night's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Adams had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Thunder's 131-103 victory. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] " title=" Oklahoma City's Steven Adams gets ready to dunk the basketball beside San Antonio's Marco Belinelli and Lonnie Walker IV during Sunday night's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Adams had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Thunder's 131-103 victory. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption> Oklahoma City's Steven Adams gets ready to dunk the basketball beside San Antonio's Marco Belinelli and Lonnie Walker IV during Sunday night's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Adams had 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Thunder's 131-103 victory. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-2f0757741e4712be315f77bc91f1fc22.jpg" alt="Photo - Thunder center Steven Adams recently flew back to Oklahoma City from New Zealand ahead of the NBA season restart, arriving to a place much different than the one he left 7,500 miles behind. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] " title=" Thunder center Steven Adams recently flew back to Oklahoma City from New Zealand ahead of the NBA season restart, arriving to a place much different than the one he left 7,500 miles behind. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] "><figcaption> Thunder center Steven Adams recently flew back to Oklahoma City from New Zealand ahead of the NBA season restart, arriving to a place much different than the one he left 7,500 miles behind. [Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman] </figcaption></figure>
Joe Mussatto

Joe Mussatto joined The Oklahoman in August 2018 to cover OU football, men’s basketball and softball. He previously covered University of Kentucky football and basketball for SEC Country. Mussatto is from Oklahoma City and lives in Norman. Read more ›

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