The Razorbacks might owe Mike Neighbors a sum of $1 million, but they are fine with it. As of now, they don’t have much time to waste. Arkansas women’s basketball just entered that drama-filled phase after parting ways with Mike Neighbors. After eight seasons of unmet expectations, Neighbors’ tenure with the team came to an end on Tuesday—a decision that, let’s be honest, wasn’t exactly shocking. He arrived in Fayetteville with big dreams, but those dreams never quite materialized into reality.
When Mike Neighbors took the Arkansas job back in 2017, the fanbase was buzzing. A homegrown coach with a knack for offensive firepower? Sign us up! But that excitement quickly faded away. While he did have some bright moments—like taking the Razorbacks to two NCAA Tournaments—recent seasons were not ideal, to say the least. This past year, Arkansas posted a painful 10-22 record, marking their worst season since 1981. So, as was expected, the Razorbacks are now on the hunt for a new leader.
Their top target? Grand Canyon University’s Molly Miller- a coach with an uncanny ability to turn teams into defensive nightmares for opponents. Before GCU, Miller was tearing up the Division II scene at Drury University, where her teams played defense with the same intensity that getting the last slice of pizza at a party requires. In 2020, she made the jump to Division I with Grand Canyon, and in just a few years, she turned them into a 29-2 team with an undefeated conference record this season.
“Once I figured out Coach Miller wants to bring out the best in you, I realized she is an awesome person,” said Hailey Diestelkamp, who played under Miller at Drury. So, it is fair to say that the coach sprinkles some kind of magic dust on her teams. If that dust could also improve free-throw percentages, she’d be unstoppable. But that’s for later.
Arkansas has already spoken to Molly Miller. She’s the front runner. https://t.co/qc0UiLy3tP
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch) March 11, 2025
However, all our discussion brings us to this question: What if Arkansas is unable to land Miller? Well, they might have a lineup in mind.
If Arkansas wants a coach who preaches defense like a religion, then Elena Lovato should be on their radar. She was an assistant at Mississippi State during their national championship run, and she knows how to recruit talent that actually wants to play defense—something the Razorbacks could use. Plus, she already knows the SEC. And if Arkansas is looking for a coach who knows how to build a winning program from the ground up, Ayla Guzzardo might be the one.
Okay, the next name might sound a bit risky. But hear us out. Bucky McMillan is technically coaching men’s basketball at Samford, but his fast-paced, up-tempo style (aka “Bucky Ball”) could shake things up for Arkansas. Another fit in the same category could be Porter Moser. Unlikely again, but it’s an interesting option. Buzz Williams might be worth a look. The bonus with him is that he has that fiery sideline presence Razorbacks fans would love.
Last but not least- Pauline Love. She has already spent time at Arkansas as an assistant and recruiting coordinator, and her ability to attract top-tier talent (including multiple McDonald’s All-Americans) speaks for itself. She recently joined Alabama’s staff, but if Arkansas wants to bring back someone who understands the program from the inside, Love could be a strong candidate.
But coming back to the no.1 choice, what does the newly crowned WAC Coach of the Year feel about moving to new opportunities?
Why Molly Miller might stay with GCU
Getting Miller won’t be easy. For one, Arizona State and Missouri are also hunting for a new head coach. As a Missouri native, she might be inclined to choose a school closer to home. But Arkansas has something that might change her mind- cold, hard cash. Arkansas paid Mike Neighbors a boatload of money. Even though he’s only taken the Hogs to the tournament twice and got kicked out in the first round both times, he was still one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball.
We might think that with that kind of life-changing money, it’s unlikely that Miller would not consider the offer. And with Arkansas on the hunt for a new head coach and Miller achieving new heights every day, it seems like a match made in heaven! The Grand Canyon coach gets exposure at a level many dream of, while the Hogs get a fresh start and a new direction to build towards. However, it is not as simple as it sounds.
Way back in January, before Neighbors’ dismissal, GCU coach Molly Miller sat down for an exclusive interview with local news outlet sgfcitizen.org. She was asked about being a candidate for a bigger job, but her response was rather down to Earth. “Every spring you see the coaching carousel and it gets a little crazy, but right now I’m in such a good position. I love where I’m at, I love the people I work with.” The Antelopes coach said, going on to compare her school’s potential to Gonzaga.
And as for her playing style? She’s a firm believer in defensive efforts, which is a large part of her success at GCU. “I’m pretty convicted in the way we play defense, so it was nice to see that translate. A lot of pressure, we’ll do a lot of trapping, pressing and definitely a high-octane defense.” Aside from that, her offensive strategies seem to be perfectly in place. Her team is currently averaging over 77 points per game on just under 50% from the field. If that isn’t a picture-perfect offense, we don’t know what is! Why would she want to leave that?
The Grand Canyon Antelopes just won the regular season championship, and they show no signs of stopping. Molly Miller, the WAC Coach of the Year, will look to make a deep playoff run and maybe even go for it all this year. If the Hogs want to get her, they’ll have to present her with an offer she just can’t refuse. Because from the looks of it? She’s loyal to her program, and she’s loyal to the thought of developing with her team.
If the Razorbacks manage to get her, however, it might just be the shot in the arm they need. Arkansas is going to try and recover from this poor showing over the next few months. With Miller, the Hogs have a chance of coming back with a vengeance. What do you think? Will Molly Miller take her talents to Arkansas? Or will she stick with GCU and turn them into contenders? Only time will tell.
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