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In August the WNBA honored Curt Miller of the Connecticut Sun as the coach of the month and now as the regular season is over, he has earned even bigger honors: the 2017 Coach of the Year — and Inaugural Executive of the Year.
Here is part of the announcement from the WNBA regarding Executive of the Year:
Connecticut Sun General Manager Curt Miller has been named the 2017 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the WNBA announced today. Miller, who also serves as the Sun’s head coach, is the inaugural recipient of the award.
Miller totaled 40 points and received six of 12 first-place votes from a panel composed of one basketball executive from each WNBA team. Washington Mystics General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thibault finished second with 24 points (three first-place votes), and Dallas Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb was third with 18 points (two first-place votes).
When the 2017 campaign began, Connecticut was voted to finish 11th in the league – the Sun finished fourth. In his rookie year as head coach of the Sun, Miller went 14-20, finishing ninth overall; Connecticut just missed playoffs. However, even without his star player Chiney Ogwumike, Miller coached the Sun to an overall record of 21-13.
Miller produced three All-Stars for the first time in their careers: Alyssa Thomas, Jasmine Thomas, and Jonquel Jones. As if helping three players make their first All-Star appearance wasn’t big enough – he also coached the East for the first-time ever -- Miller returned the Connecticut franchise to the playoffs this season – the first in five years.
His team might be young, however, Miller has them playing with solid cohesion on both sides of the ball and becoming more of a threat to the league’s top teams.