STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State softball team”s decline in performance was noticeable in recent seasons.
The team went just 78-89 in the past three seasons after going to the NCAA tournament in five of coach Jay Miller”s first six seasons.
On Wednesday, Miller found out he”d be looking for a new job.
MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said Miller”s contract, which is set to expire June 30, would not be renewed by the university.
A national search for the program”s winningest coach will begin immediately.
“We appreciate everything Jay has done for our softball program through his nine years as our head coach,” Stricklin said, “and we wish him the best in all his future activities. These are always difficult decisions, however, we believe it was time for new leadership to guide our program in a different direction.”
A message left for Miller on Wednesday wasn”t returned.
Stricklin declined to say why the decision was made and what Miller”s response was to the school”s decision to part ways.
“We”re just at a point where we thought it was best to make this decision,” Stricklin said.
Miller led MSU to a 24-32 record this season, including a 10-18 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The 2011 slate marked the Bulldogs” second consecutive losing season since going 28-28 and making the NCAA tournament as an at-large team in ”09. MSU lost to Florida State and to California in the tournament.
Miller went 295-253 ledger in nine years at MSU. This season, his 29th as a college head coach, he claimed career victory No. 1,000 with a 4-3 win against Auburn on April 8.
Miller coached three players to All-America honors for a total of eight nominations, and 14 All-SEC selections. He coached at the University of Missouri, Oklahoma City, and Purdue before coming to MSU in 2003.
Miller wasn”t just a respected college softball coach in the NCAA. He won six medals as a coach with the United States National Team. He was head coach with U.S. National Team from 2009-10, when he coached MSU players Courtney Bures and Chelsea Bramlett.
Miller was in the National Team coaching pool from 1997-2010.
Given his credentials, the news of MSU”s decision not to renew Miller”s contract came as a shock for Bramlett, who was a four-time All-American and left MSU as the NCAA”s career leader in steals.
“I thought he”d retire before they let him go,” Bramlett said. “This is a total surprise. He”s been there for so long, and having the type of name he has being with the National Team and the knowledge of the game he has, it”s hard to believe.”
Bramlett said Miller”s relationship with his players was professional, adding players “didn”t have much of a personal relationship” with Miller off the field.
“I think everybody had their different opinions,” Bramlett said of players” relationships with Miller. “It”s really kind of a difficult question to ask because I played more for the team. I think that”s where most of the motivation came from the players. It wasn”t necessarily for him as it was for the team. But we all got along with him on the field.”
East Webster High School senior and MSU signee Swayze Hollenhead said Miller”s firing wouldn”t affect her decision to play for the Bulldogs.
“I didn”t think it was true when I first heard it,” Hollenhead said. “I never got the feeling this was coming, but I”ll meet with whoever they hire and get used to that coach.”
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