Dr. Bethany Miller has led the Biola Athletic department since January of 2016. While leading Biola in its transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II she took on a more prominent role at the institution, transitioning from Head Women's Basketball coach to become the Senior Director of Athletics. In 2024, her role was elevated to include the title Associate Vice President of Student Development. She's been at Biola since she was an undergraduate student and was a women's basketball player in the 2000s prior to taking on several roles at the institution before stepping in to this leadership role.
Miller took over for Biola's legendary men's basketball coach and former Athletic Director, Dr. Dave Holmquist. Her primary responsibilities include ushering Biola through its NCAA Division II membership process, serving as a leader in the student development division at Biola, and the general management of the athletics staff and the mission and vision of the department. The Eagles successfully concluded the three-year NCAA transition process in July 2019, ushering in a new era of Eagles athletics. Miller's goal then and now is to help transform Biola into a model NCAA Division II institution. She was instrumental in leading the department through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through 2020-22.
Miller takes an active role in vision casting for the department across the University, making sure the Eagles accomplish key targets set forth in the Biola Athletics Strategic Plan. Improvements to on-campus facilities, increased academic support infrastructure and greater equity among the athletic resources have been early highlights during Miller's first few years on the job. She is also a strong voice within the PacWest Conference and NCAA Division II west region, serving alongside President Barry H. Corey as Biola was the PacWest Conference chair institution in 2023-24.
Prior to moving into the role of athletic director, Miller spent four years as the head coach of Biola Women's Basketball and 17 total years involved with the program, including time as a player and assistant coach. In her time with the Eagles, Miller kept the Biola program among the most-competitive programs in NAIA, amassing an overall record of 64-60 and leading Biola to a NAIA Quarterfinals appearance in 2011-12.
Biola opened that 2011-12 tournament with an impressive 69-66 win over Lee University (Tenn.) to pick up its first tournament win in three years. The Eagles followed that up with a dominating 73-58 win the next night against Langston University (Okla.). However the run came to an end in the NAIA Quarterfinals as Biola lost 74-52 to the eventual national champs Union University (Tenn.) in a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate.
Miller played four seasons with the Eagles while attending Biola from 1999-2003. She ranks in the top 20 all-time at Biola in games started, minutes played and assists and was the captain of the team as a junior and senior.
She earned a degree in Physical Education (Pre-Physical Therapy) from Biola in 2003, earning a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Cal State Northridge in 2009 and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Montana in 2011. Miller continued her learning when she enrolled in the MA in Spiritual Formation & Soul Care at Biola's Talbot School of Theology. She completed that degree in 2021.
