What’s Next for Dan Muller

Still Wants to Coach

(St. Louis, MO) – Dan Muller still wants to coach. Where and with whom is the question. The recently fired Illinois State coach is upbeat about his future and grateful for his past. This in-between time is uncomfortable, but he’s in no hurry to just jump into another situation.

After ten seasons and 167 wins, the Missouri Valley Conference’s 2017 Coach of the Year is in a time of transition. With all of that experience, Muller is just 46-years-old. After a playing career that saw him win the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Year’ award and earn two, ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ trophies, Muller briefly played professionally.

He started his coaching career working at Vanderbilt for former ISU head coach Kevin Stallings. During his twelve seasons in Nashville, the Commodores participated in six NCAA Tournaments. As a head coach, Muller posted seven-straight winning seasons, including the 28-7, 2017 championship team. The last three seasons have all been sub-.500 campaigns.

Released Mid-Season

On Sunday, February 13, with three-weeks left in the season, Muller was released. Director of Athletics Kyle Brennan said Muller’s contract status made it important to make the move when he did to begin the search process.

“Given the contract requirement of 30-day notice, it was imperative to make a timely decision to begin the search process for a new coach. This will allow us to find the best candidate and provide them with the time necessary to recruit prior to the upcoming April signing period,” Brennan continued. “On behalf of Redbird Athletics, I want to thank Dan and Melissa for their service to Illinois State, wish them well in the future, and know they will always be Redbirds.”

Muller remains friendly with and respectful of Brennan and the ISU administration, but admits the timing was unique and difficult. The former Arch Madness Most Outstanding Player, was originally going keep coaching the team until the end of the season, but then changed his mind.

 

 

Muller came to Arch Madness to cheer on his players and he spent some time with us on ‘The Big 550 – KTRS’ the St. Louis radio home of Arch Madness.

Illinois State Memories 

Muller talks endlessly about ‘the people’ and the relationships that make coaching special. He still has great affection for Illinois State and the people there. During his coaching tenure Redbird players earned four first-team, nine second-team and one third-team all conference awards. Paris Lee was the Valley’s 2017 ‘Larry Bird Player of the Year’. Four different players were named to the league’s ‘most improved’ teams.

Muller says relationships trump everything else, but there were some special ‘on-the-court’ memories.

 

 

While producing on the floor, the Lafayette, Indiana native believes in promoting others and helped numerous assistant coaches grow and succeed in their profession. Four former assistants are Division 1 head coaches. Two, Dana Ford at Missouri State and Illinois-Chicago’s Luke Yaklich will be coaching in the MVC next season. Brian ‘Penny’ Collins (Tennessee State) and Jeremy Ballard (Florida International) are the others.

 

 

What’s Next For Dan Muller?

Dan Muller wants to coach. He loves the competition, mentoring young men and being a part of team frame work. As March Madness begins and the season starts ending for most college basketball programs, numerous openings will occur and changes will be made. The agent-less Muller hasn’t begun to look at openings yet, but believes becoming an assistant is probably his next coaching move.

Time is on his side. Wife Melissa has a job she likes and Illinois State owes him a significant amount of money, so he doesn’t have to make a knee-jerk decision. Muller is a proven recruiter, is good with the media and seems to have boundless energy. Whether those qualities prove marketable in this offseason remains to be seen.

But he wants to coach.

 

 

What’s next for Dan Muller? We will see, but Valley Hoops Insider will be watching closely.

To hear this entire interview head to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts, or to watch it, run to YouTube.

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