Zach Osterman

zach.osterman@indystar.com

Curt Miller, who in two seasons engineered a remarkable turnaround of the IU women's basketball program, stunned the Indiana community with his resignation today.

Miller leaves Indiana with a 32-32 overall record, including guiding the Hoosiers to 21 wins and a berth in the WNIT quarterfinals last season.

"I have decided to resign as Head Coach of the Women's Basketball Program, effective immediately, for personal health and family reasons," Miller wrote in his resignation letter, dated Thursday. "As you know, this was a most difficult decision, but the right one for me and my family at this time.

"Thank you for the opportunity to lead and resurrect the Program. I will always cherish my time as a part of the Hoosier Nation. I wish nothing but continued success to the players, coaches and the program."

Hired in 2012 after a 6-24 season, Miller turned Indiana from a Big Ten bottom dweller into a competitive — if young — outfit that set a program record with 14-consecutive wins to begin last season. Despite at times fielding a starting lineup comprised entirely of freshmen, the Hoosiers managed to nearly double their win total from Miller's first year (11) to his second (21).

A strong presence in recruiting marked Miller's brief tenure in Bloomington as well.

Three of Indiana's top four scorers last season were freshmen, including leading scorer Larryn Brooks, who started all 34 of the Hoosiers' games in 2013-14 and averaged 16.3 points per game.

That young roster figures to be bolstered this upcoming season by an equally promising freshman class that includes, among others, two-time Illinois Ms. Basketball Tyra Buss and 2014 IndyStar Miss Basketball runner-up Maura Muensterman of Evansville Mater Dei.

Miller and IU Director of Athletics Fred Glass met with the team and what members of the coaching staff were available this morning to break the news, according to the release. Several players expressed solidarity for their program Friday on Twitter.

"Couldn't imagine being anywhere else," Brooks tweeted. "Nothing changes. Love this team and fan base."

"I wouldn't trade this team for the world," Muensterman tweeted.

According to the release, Miller will stay with the program through the end of the month. Assistant head coach Curtis Lloyd will act as interim head coach while Indiana searches for Miller's replacement.

"Curt Miller did an incredible job coaching this team, bringing us farther, faster than anyone could have reasonably expected," Glass said in the release. "He leaves the program in a very strong position and poised for much greater success. I respect his decision to resign, and I wish him well. The search for a permanent successor has already begun."

A further request for comment from IU was declined by Associate AD for Strategic Communications and Fan Experience Jeremy Gray, other than to say Miller's decision was a "personal matter," and that Indiana would not comment on an ongoing coaching search.

In 13 years as a head coach, Miller compiled a 290-124 record. In his 11 seasons at Bowling Green prior to arriving in Bloomington, his teams won eight regular-season Mid-American Conference titles and appeared in five different NCAA tournaments. Miller himself was named MAC Coach of the Year six times.

Miller signed a 6-year contract worth $275,000 with Indiana.

He suffered a mild stroke during a game against Eastern Michigan in January of 2012. He took three games off before returning. He downplayed it at his introductory news conference in Bloomington: "Stress is going to be there, but if you're asking me if I'm healthy, I'm healthy."

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.