It was sad to learn of the passing of Hall of Fame coach Ralph Miller at age 82. Many people might not be familiar with Miller, who operated at a time when his basketball programs did not get the TV exposure that teams get today. But Miller was an outstanding disciplinarian and a brilliant teacher.

Miller had a basic philosophy and knew how to get the maximum out of his players. He was a winner everywhere he coached and is the sixth winningest Division I coach of all time. Miller got great results at Wichita State before going to Oregon State, where he was a two-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year.

During his 19 seasons in Corvallis, Ore., he built the Beavers into an elite program, even though he coached at a time when UCLA was dominating the Pac-10. He did a fantastic job with Gary Payton, who is still going strong as an NBA All-Star.

The greatest compliment I could give Miller is that his peers had tremendous respect for his brilliant career. Basketball has lost a genuine superstar coach in Miller.