Women's basketball coach announces staff

IU Coach Curt Miller finally has some company in his work.

The new women’s basketball leader announced the remainder of his coaching staff Friday, which includes Chris day, Brandi Poole, and Kevin Eckert. Day will serve as Miller’s associate head coach, while Poole and Eckert have been selected to be assistant coaches.

“Overall, my assistant coaches have great experience,” Miller said in a press release. “But maybe more importantly the energy and passion to help build IU women’s basketball into a Big Ten contender.”

Day will run the team’s defensive strategies, and, along with Eckert, will work with IU’s guards. Poole’s work will focus on post players and recruiting, as she will also serve as the recruiting coordinator. Eckert will assist Miller in running the team’s offense.

Day spent the past seven seasons as an assistant coach for Saint Joseph’s University (SJU), during which the Hawks accumulated a 128-94 record. The team reached the postseason the past three years and won at least 20 games in 2011 and 2012.

"I am excited, but humbled at the same time about joining the Indiana University women's basketball family,” Day said in a press release.  “I am so grateful to have a tremendous opportunity to work for a great person and coach in Curt Miller.  My family and I are very anxious to be a part of the Bloomington community."

Poole is following Miller from Bowling Green State University, where she served as an assistant coach for 11 seasons.

“It has been a privilege to work for Coach Miller for the last 11 years at Bowling Green and establish a winning tradition,” Poole said in a press release.  “I am very humbled to have the opportunity to come with him to Indiana University.  This state is known for its basketball tradition, so to be able to walk into Assembly Hall every day and work to build a championship program is truly an honor.”

Eckert also worked as an assistant coach under Miller and joined his staff at Bowling Green one year following Poole’s arrival.

“Ten years ago, Coach Miller sold me on his vision as to what we could do to make Bowling Green a mid-major power, and that vision came to fruition,” Eckert said in a press release. “Now we have that opportunity again to grow this program into a Big Ten power. Indiana is not only one of the premiere academic institutions in the country, but it is a place that is steeped in basketball tradition. It is truly an honor to be a part of this institution, and I look forward to joining Coach Miller in fulfilling the vision he has for Indiana women’s basketball.”

Poole and Eckert helped lead Bowling Green to win at least a Mid-American Conference (MAC) division title in each of the past eight years. During that span, the Falcons also made the postseason every year, including five NCAA Tournament appearances.

During Poole and Eckert’s tenure, Bowling Green compiled five MAC Tournament championships, achieved 21 or more wins the past nine seasons, and accumulated 28 or more victories four times.

- Trent Stutzman