Steve Lutz Hires James Miller as Associate Head Coach

This story has been updated from its original version.

Steve Lutz nabbed an assistant from an NCAA Tournament team to join his staff.

Lutz hired Mississippi State associate head coach James Miller to join Oklahoma State’s staff. The news was first reported by Trilly Donovan before 247Sports’ Justin Frommer confirmed the move from the Mississippi State side. Oklahoma State confirmed the hiring Friday.

“Wherever James goes, success follows,” Lutz said in OSU’s release. “That is no accident. He’s a winner, and I’m thrilled that he and his wife Darlene and daughters Mia and Macy will be joining us in Stillwater. James is as respected and well-connected as any young coach in this business. I am excited to work with him and establish a culture of hard work.”

Miller has been a longtime assistant of Chris Jans, starting with Jans in New Mexico State in 2019 and making the move to Starkville with Jans in 2023. With Miller on staff at New Mexico State, the Aggies earned two WAC regular season titles, two WAC Tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Mississippi State has made the tournament the past two seasons with Miller on staff. That’s extra significant because the Bulldogs have only made the tourney three times since 2010.

Before New Mexico State, Miller spent time as an assistant at North Texas, Arkansas State and Omaha. Those stops with the Mean Green and Red Wolves were under current Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland.

Before that, Miller was the head coach at New Mexico Junior College for three seasons, where he compiled 77 wins and made three postseason appearances.

It seems like a solid hire. Jans is one of the most highly regarded Power Five coaches that isn’t at a basketball power. Given that Miller was associate head coach at New Mexico State and Mississippi State, it feels like Lutz now has Jans’ right-hand man.