UNLV dumps women’s basketball coach

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Regina Miller is out after 10 seasons as the UNLV women’s basketball coach, but details are sketchy after the athletic department released only a two-sentence, 46-word statement regarding the move Friday.

It was not clear whether Miller was fired, resigned or was pressured to quit, or whether she will remain at UNLV in some capacity other than coaching.

“It’s a personnel matter, and I’m not making any comments,” UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick said.

Attempts to reach Miller, 8-22 this season and 175-125 overall with the Lady Rebels, were unsuccessful.

The lack of comments could indicate the story is far from over.

Some in and around the program, who declined to speak on the record because of the sensitivity of the matter, have indicated Miller might not go quietly, whether that involves litigation or other means.

Miller has one year left on her contract. She was scheduled to make $227,500 next season, including a base salary of $192,500. Part of Miller’s earnings were to include $20,000 for television and radio commitments and $15,000 for public appearances.

Three women’s players said they think the program needs new leadership.

“I totally support Mike Hamrick’s decision and that of the administration, and I look forward to a new start,” junior Shannon Oberg said. “I just feel we have so much talent on this team, and we need to bring somebody in and change around the program and make the (NCAA) Tournament and make something happen.”

Sophomore Latoya Hunt said, “We had a rough season, and I think change is for the best.”

Junior Brittany Halberg agreed.

“I support Mike Hamrick’s decision 100 percent,” Halberg said. “Obviously, it’s a change. That’s always nerve-racking. We don’t know who our next coach is going to be.”

Not all UNLV players wanted the change, however.

After the Lady Rebels’ season-ending 68-49 loss to Colorado State in the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Tuesday, two of Miller’s players came to her defense and said the coach should be retained.

“She never gave up on us,” junior Shamela Hampton said. “She never quit on us.”

Said senior Sequoia Holmes: “I’ve really grown playing in this program and understand her tutelage. I just think that she has shown that basketball relates to life, and, personally, life is more important than basketball.”

Miller took over a program that had won 12 games over three seasons. She led UNLV to a 17-11 record in her first season, 1998-99, the first of eight consecutive winning seasons.

Miller led the Lady Rebels to one NCAA Tournament appearance, a 71-54 first-round loss to Minnesota in 2002. She took UNLV to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament title game in 2004 before falling to Creighton, 73-52.

The program fell on hard times recently, though, going 14-15 in 2006-07, followed by Miller’s worst season at UNLV, when the Lady Rebels lost 13 of their last 15 games.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2914.