Athletic Director Steve Bilsky announced today that Glen Miller has been relieved of his duties as men’s basketball head coach and will be replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Jerome Allen.
The decision comes in the middle of Miller’s fourth season with the program. At 0-7, the team is off to its worst start since the 2000-01 season, in which the Quakers began 0-8.
Even so, Bilsky stressed that the decision was not made entirely based on the team’s poor start, but rather on his disappointment with the recent direction of the program.
“It was really that lack of what Penn represents — in addition to the wins and losses — that disappointed me and led me to the conclusion to do this,” Bilsky said. “It’s just the general sense that I think of us as a community-building activity, that students can come to the Palestra and watch their team and be proud of it.
“It’s just a good feeling that here you have an Ivy League school, which really stands for academics, that can somehow not only be successful in our league but be competitive in the city and a national standpoint and do some really unique things that produce fine student-athletes and that people can embrace that. That was unraveling. And that was really what led me to the conclusion”
Though Bilsky claims to have made up his mind “late last week,” he informed Miller and the players of the decision this morning. He justified his timing based both on the players’ need to focus on academics during finals and Penn’s two-week break before its next game Dec. 28 at Davidson. The break, Bilsky said, will allow Allen to implement any short-term changes into the team’s gameplan.
Miller — then the head coach at Brown — took over in 2006 after Fran Dunphy departed for Temple. In his first year he rode seniors Ibrahim Jaaber, Mark Zoller and Stephen Danley to a 22-9 record (13-1 Ivy League) and a League title.
But he was less successful over the past two and a half years, compiling a 23-43 record over that span. That included seven consecutive home losses from January to February 2009 — a school record.
Beyond the poor numbers, Miller has been on the hot seat for other issues. Since he took over, four players have left the team for reasons other than graduation. He has also been a target of criticism for his lack of engagement with the Penn community.
While Bilsky did not directly criticize Miller for that, he did say that it would be important in the school’s search for a new head coach.
“I’m not going to really talk about what Glen did and didn’t do,” he said. “I’m just gonna say that’s an important quality for this person to have, to generate enthusiasm and hope and faith and goodwill and do all of those things. And additionally to have a team that goes on the court that wins.”
Allen, whose first game as interim head coach will take place Dec. 28 at 2-7 Davidson, brings an impressive playing resume to the position, but has limited experience as a coach. His role as an assistant on this team was his first at the NCAA level, though he has served at other levels.
After an All-Ivy career with the Quakers, Allen was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 1995 draft and played two seasons in the NBA. Following that, he had a successful career playing for teams throughout Europe.
During his time overseas, Allen served as the head coach for Snaidero Basket in Udine, Italy. He also held a 2007 summer internship with the San Antonio Spurs as they competed in the Las Vegas NBA summer league.
But despite the lack of experience, Allen was Bilsky’s “first and only choice” to fill the void.
“He represents what I think Penn’s basketball success represents: a quality player, a quality person, with humility, who likes to win and loves the school,” Bilsky said. “But he or nobody else is a miracle man, and so the reality of it is we’re struggling as a team now, and we’re asking him to begin the rebuilding process, both in terms of what goes on on the floor, but some of these bigger issues as well.”
Though Allen will serve on an interim basis, there is no indication as to who will be the team’s next permanent head coach.
“Clearly we’re going to get a chance to see [Allen’s] talents coming forward…” Bilsky said. “I wouldn’t want to go so far as to say that this is a trial, but we’re gonna watch everything, and then when it comes time to decide the more permanent situation we’ll look at the options at that point.”
Bilsky added that Allen and assistant coaches John Gallagher and Mike Martin have yet to decide which coaches will remain with the program. Martin’s status will be especially intriguing, as the former Brown standout has served as an assistant under Miller since the 2005-06 season when they were still with the Bears.
Players were not made available for comment today.
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