Former TU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller joins Tulsa Shock coaching staff

TULSA, OK-- Once again, there will be a familiar face on the Tulsa Shock bench.

Former University of Tulsa and Colorado Head Coach Kathy McConnell-Miller will join Interim Head Coach Teresa Edwards on the Shock bench as an assistant for the remainder of the 2011 WNBA season.

McConnell-Miller was the head basketball coach at the University of Tulsa from 1999 to 2005. From 2005 to 2010, she was the head basketball coach at the University of Colorado.

“I’m very excited to have the enthusiasm and energy that she’s going to bring to us. We need that. We need to put the fun back in basketball in Tulsa and I really believe Kathy will bring that,” Interim Head Coach Teresa Edwards said. “I think what really sold me on Kathy was her persistence and attention to detail. She was trying to help me from afar as much has as she could. I’m very confident that I have a loyal comrade with me on this one. We are aiming to do great things here and we are going to work extremely hard.”

She led the TU Golden Hurricane women’s basketball team to two WNIT appearances in 2004-2005 and the University of Colorado women’s team to the WNIT in 2008.

“I’m extremely excited to be part of this city and its incredible fans once again with the Tulsa Shock organization,” McConnell-Miller said. “I think my expectations are to help bring a championship caliber team to this city and engage as quickly as I can to help Coach Teresa Edwards with the goals she has set for this team. I want to help bring out the absolute best in our players. Coaching is my passion and to be sitting beside one of the greatest players to ever play basketball is something I look forward to a great deal.”

McConnell-Miller will be behind the bench for the first time as an assistant at home on July 26th when the Shock face the Atlanta Dream at the BOK Center. Tickets are available at the BOK Center or by calling 918 599 WNBA.