BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan University Assistant Softball Coach Nikki Miller has been elevated to full-time as part of the NCAA Division III grant program IWU Athletic Director Mike Wagner announced Friday, July 31. Miller, who has served on Tiffany Prager's staff for the past three years, will add administrative duties to her responsibilities.

Illinois Wesleyan was one of several Division III institutions around the country awarded the grant by the NCAA. The Division III diversity grants provide grant funding to members committed to enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration and assistant coaching positions. Through the grant, Miller will receive professional development opportunities via the NCAA.

"We want to thank the NCAA for providing this opportunity in sports and administration," Wagner said. "We're excited to elevate Nikki in this new role. She has been a tremendous part of our staff and the Titan athletics family and we are happy to see her continue to excel in this position."

"Coach Miller has been imperative to our success in enhancing the student-athlete experience on and off the softball field," Prager shared. "Our goal as a coaching staff every year is to have everyone within our program reach their potential holistically as a person, student and athlete. Coach Miller's loyalty and commitment to our student-athletes has served that purpose beyond measure - from the overall functioning of our day-to-day processes within our softball program, and Titan athletics, to elevating our pitching staff to the best staff in the nation."

"Our student-athletes achieved new heights under the tutelage of Coach Miller when they were honored in 2019 for having the best ERA (1.02) in all of NCAA Division III softball, along with ranking in the top-five nationally in several other pitching categories. Our talented student-athletes also deserve a great deal of credit in entrusting Coach Miller from day one to join our staff and make a positive impact. We are thankful to the NCAA for providing an opportunity to receive grant funding and we are committed to fulfilling the duties that are integral to this position's purpose. We are also very grateful to have Athletic Director Mike Wagner, who works tirelessly to take the necessary steps in providing opportunities like this one to our softball program."

"I am grateful to Mike Wagner, Tiffany Prager, and the NCAA for their belief in me as a valuable member of this staff," Miller added. "I have loved being a part of the Titan family the past three years and developing relationships with our outstanding student-athletes. I cannot wait to grow through this new position alongside the best coaches and administrators in the country."

In her first three years on Prager's staff, Miller has mentored Ally Wiegand to CCIW Pitcher of the Year and Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III Pitcher of the Year honors. Wiegand and Brea Walker reeled in a combined five All-CCIW selections, while IWU led the nation in team earned run average in 2019. Additionally, Illinois Wesleyan has recorded one no-hitter and a perfect game in Miller's tenure. 

Prior to coming to IWU, Miller was an assistant coach for two seasons at Wittenberg University in Ohio. She also coached softball at Normal Community West High School and for the Bloomington-Normal Girls Softball Association Xplosion youth organization in 2013 and 2014. Miller was named the BNGSA's first-ever Director of Coaching in October 2017.

A native of Starkville, Miss., Miller was a four-year letterwinner as a first baseman at Lake Forest College. A career .311 hitter, Miller served as a team captain as a senior.

She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2013 and earned her master's degree in sport management from Illinois State in May 2015, where she also monitored academic progress of student-athletes.