April 4, 2024
TRINE’S BROOKS MILLER RECIPIENT OF 2024 GLENN ROBINSON AWARD
Presented annually to the top head coach in division III college basketball.
PHOENIX, AZ -- Trine University’s Brooks Miller is the recipient of the 2024 Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year, which is presented annually to the top head coach in division III college basketball.
Miller led Trine University to a 29-4 record, its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, and the NCAA Division III National Championship. The 29 wins is the most in the team's NCAA Division III era.
The historic run to a championship included wins over four nationally ranked teams. The Thunder defeated No. 25 Coe College to advance to the second weekend and knocked off No. 11 Wisconsin-Platteville with a buzzer beater in overtime. They secured their first National Championship with wins over No. 3 ranked Trinity College and No. 1 Hampden-Sydney.
Under Miller's guidance, defense was the foundation. The Thunder ranked fifth in NCAA Division III in steals per game (11.8) and were also 11th in the nation in turnover margin (+5.0) and 13th in turnovers forced per game (17.7). At the other end of the floor, the team's 48.1% field goal percentage for the year was 25th in the nation.
Trine went 22-3 in the regular season with a 12-2 mark in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play to secure the program's third conference title in the last six years.
In Miller's 12 seasons at Trine, the Thunder have been the only MIAA program to finish in the top four of the conference in each of his twelve years and have had 11 First Team All-MIAA members with 17 total selections. He has compiled an overall record of 197-112 and 118-66 versus Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents.
During his tenure, Trine elevated its game academically to among the best in all of college basketball.
"It was an historical season for Brooks Miller," said Joe Dwyer, President of CollegeInsider.com. "Trine University set the single season record for wins and went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever and brought home the school’s first NCAA Championship. It was the best season in school history."
The Glenn Robinson Award is named in honor of the legendary Franklin & Marshall head coach.
The winningest coach in Division III history, Robinson won his 900th game on Jan. 9, 2016. He’s the second Division III coach to spend 1,000 games on the sidelines.
Robinson directed the Diplomats to 23 NCAA tournament appearances, 42 tournament victories, 16 trips to the Sweet 16 and Final Four visits in 1979, 1991, 1996, 2000 and 2009.
Even more remarkable, Franklin & Marshall was 22-43 in his first three seasons and in the last 45 years, all but three players have earned their degree.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
2023: Landry Kosmalski, Swathmore
2022: Josh Merkel, Randolph-Macon
2021: Josh Merkel, Randolph-Macon
2020: Elliot Steinmetz, Yeshiva University
2019: Matt Lewis, UW-Oshkosh
2018: Charlie Brock, Springfield College
2017: Kevin App, Williams College
2016: John Krikorian, Christopher Newport
2015: Jon VanderWal, Marietta
2014 Greg Dunne, Brockport State
2013: Chris Bartley, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
2012: Matt Neil, Hope College
2011: Shawn Cassidy, Concordia University Wisconsin