a publication for alumni, family, and friends

Andi Traupel
University Relations intern

To the Miller brothers basketball is a way of life. Playing basketball on the old dirt driveway, and finding their path to the college courts at Dakota Wesleyan University, Tom '71, Chris '75 and Alan '86 started a family tradition.

Growing up in the small town of Stickney, youth sports were not as organized as they are today. Tom, the oldest, took charge and organized, taught and coached many of the kids in the community. "The older ones would set the trend and the younger ones would follow," he said.

Chris remembers when he and Tom matched up and played against their older brother, Rob, and cousin, Randy, often beating them. "The games would get really competitive; fights would often break out as the games could really get heated," Chris said. "I was the youngest of that group and would just try to get the ball to Tom."

Tom established the Miller family tradition at Wesleyan, experiencing tremendous success on the court. He is the 16th leading scorer in the university's history, and was a two-time all-conference selection. During his junior year, Tom was Wesleyan's first athlete to receive the NAIA Emil Liston Award, an honor given to the top junior student-athlete in the nation.

Tom lives in Mitchell with his wife, the former Sheryl Klein '70, and was a school administrator until he recently resigned to help manage his youngest son's financial matters and Web site. His son, Mike Miller, plays professional basketball with the Orlando Magic and was recently named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Watching Tom play and seeing what he'd experienced at Wesleyan, Chris decided to follow in his brother's footsteps. "I was most inspired by Tom," Chris said. "He was successful in all sports and was difficult to stop on the basketball floor. I wanted to carry on that tradition," Chris said.

Chris made a name for himself at Wesleyan and is the fourth leading scorer in DWU history. He was a three-time all-conference selection and an honorable mention All-American his senior year. He still holds six school basketball records and was the South Dakota College Athlete of the Year in 1975. Chris lives in Kentucky and is the corporate vice president of support services for Integrity Healthcare Service Inc.

"I hope Alan observed the same success with me that I observed with Tom and selected DWU based on that. We were always competing for an SDIC crown in those days and Coach Gordie Fosness was a great influence. I think Alan could see that both Tom and I had success at DWU and he thought, why not make it a clean sweep?" he said.

Alan, keeping the Miller tradition alive, created his own success at DWU. He is Wesleyan's all-time scoring leader and a four-time all-conference selection. He was named the SDIC most valuable player twice, was two-time honorable mention All-American, and was a first-team All-American his senior year. He was the national NAIA scoring champion during the 1984-85 season and still holds seven school basketball records.

Alan lives in Mitchell where he teaches mathematics and coaches the freshman girls' and boys' basketball teams at Mitchell High School. He also spends his summers running basketball camps. "I credit much of my success to my brothers," Alan said. "They started the tradition. They were successful and they helped me develop on the court."

These Millers all experienced great success at Wesleyan, but not without the help of former DWU Coach Gordon Fosness. "The Miller brothers were excellent players and when they put their uniforms on they were competitive," Fosness said.

With the talent they showed on the court, it's no surprise that Tom, Chris and Alan are the only trio of brothers who've been inducted into the DWU Athletic Hall of Fame.

"It's a great honor and it shows how the family tradition has been carried on," Alan said.

Wearing the number 50 on the court has great significance in the family. At some point in their college careers all three Miller brothers wore 50 when they played for Wesleyan. The next generation of Millers is carrying on that tradition with their own teams. Ryan, Tom's oldest son, wore the number 50 for Mitchell's semi-professional team, the South Dakota Gold, as does Mike, on his Orlando Magic jersey.

Mike was back home in Mitchell recently to help with the family's summer basketball camps.

"Growing up, I was around basketball all the time. With Alan running camps and playing pickup games with my dad, uncles and brothers, I got a lot of practice," Mike said.

Tom said he's amazed at the success Mike has had and wonders if it will ever sink in. Chris said it feels great to watch his nephew on the court and that he has a tremendous sense of pride in what Mike has accomplished since going pro. "Rookie of the Year…it does not get much better than that," Chris said.

Basketball is and always has been a major part of the Millers' lives. Whether it's watching Mike play in the NBA or running basketball camps, the support and motivation they give each other make a difference.

"The spacing of our ages has worked to our benefit," Alan said. "As I was getting done with college ball, Tom's son, Ryan, was starting up, and as Mike was getting done with college ball, my son, Jordan, was starting up. We all have been able to help each other."

Other relatives of the Millers who are DWU graduates include Sheryl's brother-in-law and sister, Harold '73 and Debra Klein '72 Isakson; niece, Stephanie Miller '98; niece, Natalie Miller Misiaszek ex'94 and her husband, Jim Misiaszek ex'91; and nephew, Ernie Kuyper ex'02.

Miller milestones

Other Miller DWU Records