Sun coach Miller finalizing multi-year deal with Sparks

The Los Angeles Sparks are hiring Curt Miller as the franchise’s next head coach.

“The Sparks are thrilled to name Curt Miller our Head Coach,” Managing Partner Eric Holoman said in a release. “After conducting a thorough search, we are confident that Curt is the right person to lead the next era of Sparks basketball.

“Curt brings extensive experience as a WNBA head coach, where he has won at a historic pace and helped develop several All-WNBA and MVP-level players,” Holoman added. “His teams play with an intensity and attention to detail our players will embrace, and a passion our fans will appreciate.”

Miller was an assistant for the Sparks in 2015 before becoming the head coach of the Connecticut Sun in 2016. The two-time WNBA coach of the year (2017 and 2021) has led Connecticut to the WNBA Finals twice in the last four years, but has not secured a championship for the franchise. The Sun most recently lost in the 2022 WNBA Finals to the Las Vegas

Aces in four games.

“I want to thank Eric Holoman and the entire Sparks ownership group for the opportunity to coach one of the iconic teams in women’s professional sports,” Miller said in a release. “The Los Angeles Sparks have a history of winning championships in front of one of the most passionate fanbases in sports, and it’s an honor to be named Sparks head coach.”

Miller is known for an aggressive style of basketball that he refers to as ‘messy,’ a type of play that fosters forcing turnovers, making opposing teams take highly contested shots and capitalizing in transition.

The Sparks are facing a rebuild following the departures of Candace Parker (2021 to Chicago) and Chelsea Gray (2021 to Las Vegas Aces). Each player has won respective WNBA titles since their departure, whereas the Sparks have struggled and have lacked an identity.

Miller has also served as General Manager for the Connecticut Sun.

Connecticut Sun President Jen Rizzotti said in a statement,”We are very grateful for the time Curt spent in Connecticut building the organization into a championship level team over the past seven years. Curt and I have had multiple conversations about the future over the past few weeks. As his friend, I wanted to be supportive of the fact that he could be ready for a change. On behalf of the Connecticut Sun I want to thank him for his commitment to the organization and for the level of sustained success he has achieved. As I look to our future, I know we have all the pieces in place to be a championship contender again next year; we look forward to finding the right person to lead our team.”

“I’m ready to work alongside our owners, players, and entire organization to help build a team that will compete for WNBA championships and make our fans and partners proud,” Miller said in a release. “It’s a privilege to hold this position, and I’m committed to adding to the incredible basketball legacy of this city and franchise.”

Miller