Despite moving on, McConnell-Miller is a ‘Hiller for life!’
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During her past five years coaching the girls basketball team at Trinity, Kathy McConnell-Miller led the Hillers to two appearances in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game but she doesn’t consider that to be the highlight of her time at Trinity.
“Having the opportunity to coach such talented young women (past and present) and be a part of their academic and athletic journey has been the highlight of my time at Trinity,” said McConnell-Miller via text. “I am a Hiller for life!”
McConnell-Miller has accepted the head coaching job for the women’s basketball team at Carnegie Mellon University. She will begin on May 31.
“Kathy has had outstanding success at all levels of the game, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to the Carnegie Mellon family,” said CMU Director of Athletics Josh Centor in a press release from the school. “We have aspirations to become one of the top Division III women’s basketball programs in the nation, and with Kathy’s leadership, expertise and character, we believe she’s the one to lead us there.”
McConnell-Miller has coached at the collegiate level, including as an assistant at Pitt when she started out in 1991. She was head coach at Tulsa and the University of Colorado, and had a stint with the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock as an assistant.
“I love coaching at every level, and Carnegie Mellon is an elite academic institution,” McConnell-Miller said. “I love the city of Pittsburgh, so it will be exciting to go to work there.”
McConnell-Miller was also the assistant athletic director at Trinity, which leaves an opening with her having to step down to take the job at Carnegie Mellon.
“She has a passion to coach full time and Carnegie Mellon is ideal for her,” said Trinity Athletic Director Ricci Rich. “It is close to her family and a good program. Her not being assistant athletic director creates a void that will be tough to fill, but it is a great opportunity for her.”
McConnell-Miller will miss not only Rich, but the entire staff and students at Trinity.
“It has been a privilege to have been a part of the Trinity family for the past five years,” McConnell-Miller texted. “The exceptional leadership of Dr. Lucas, alongside the remarkable school board and our amazing administrative team, it’s been an honor to be part of a community where our students come first!
“Working with such an outstanding athletic director, Ricci Rich, who is the Pennsylvania AD of the Year, has helped me grow personally and professionally. I’m blessed to call him my friend.”
McConnell-Miller also wanted her players at Trinity, past and present, that they can contact her any time and she will always be their coach.