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'Sad day for college basketball' Hall of Fame Oregon State coach Miller dead at 82
Updated: Wednesday May 16, 2001 5:50 PM CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Former Oregon State basketball coach Ralph Miller, who led the Beavers to four Pacific-10 Conference championships and eight NCAA tournament appearances, has died. He was 82. Miller retired in 1989 as the sixth all-time winningest Division I coach with 674 victories. His teams had just three losing seasons in 38 years as a major college head coach. "Oregon State University has lost a true giant," said athletics director Mitch Barnhart. Miller died Tuesday at his home at Black Butte Ranch near Sisters, university officials said. The Hall of Fame coach compiled a record of 359-186 during his 19 seasons at Oregon State, beginning in 1971.
Miller led the 1981 team to the No. 1 ranking in the nation for nine weeks, and five of his teams were ranked in the top 10. In addition to conference titles and NCAA appearances, his teams made three trips to the National Invitation Tournament and won seven Far West Classic titles. He also was a two-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year and coached two consensus All-Americans -- Steve Johnson and Gary Payton. "I looked to Ralph as my mentor, but most of all as a good friend," said his longtime assistant and former OSU head coach Jim Anderson. "Every head coach in the program since Ralph has attempted to emulate the high level of achievement his teams experienced." Miller was born March 9, 1919, in Chanute, Kan., where he earned four letters in football and track, three in basketball, and one in golf and tennis at Chanute High School. He also earned all-state honors in basketball three times before he entered the University of Kansas in 1937 and became a two-sport star for the Jayhawks. He earned three letters as a football quarterback and three in basketball playing for Phog Allen. Following his graduation from Kansas in 1942 with a degree in physical education, Miller served three years in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and was discharged at the rank of first lieutenant. Miller started his coaching career at Wichita State University in 1952, where he also earned a master's degree in physical education. In 13 seasons, he guided the Shockers to a record of 220-133, a Missouri Valley Conference title, three appearances in the National Invitation Tournament, and one berth in the NCAA Tournament. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988, and received the National Association of Basketball Coaches Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award in 1997. "This is a sad day for college basketball," Beaver head coach Ritchie McKay said. "Ralph had a huge impact on the game and in young peoples lives." Miller is survived by his wife Jean; son Paul Milam Miller of Black Butte Ranch; daughters Susan (Miller) Langer of Vancouver, Wash., and Shannon (Miller) Jakosky of Balboa, Cal.; two sisters, 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A private family service was pending.
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