Open Practice with Molly Miller: 'Camp GRIT' - Defense Drills, Toughness Drills, Rebounding, Perseverance Drills & More!

with Molly Miller,
Arizona State University Head Coach;
Grand Canyon University Head Women's Basketball Coach from 2020 to 2025;
2025 WAC Regular Season Champions;
2025 WAC Regular Season Champions;
2025 WAC Tournament Champions;
2023 & 2025 WAC Coach of the Year;
In every season at GCU, Miller's teams have averaged between 10.2 and 13.4 steals/game and have ranked as high as number 4 (in 2023), number 3 (in 2022) and number 2 (in 2021) in the US among all D-I teams;
Drury University Head Coach from 2014 to 2020;
2019 NCAA D II Final Four;
5x Great Lakes Valley Conference Regular Season Champions;
5x Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament Champions;
2x WBCA Division II Coach of the Year (2019, 2020);
Undefeated season (32-0) in 2020;
played college basketball for Drury University;
second all time for scoring (1,570 points), assists (439), and steals (407);
2007 Drury Athletics Hall of Fame inductee

Known for her team’s grit, hard work, and pressure defense, Grand Canyon’s head coach Molly Miller has success wherever she goes. In this ‘Open Practice’ video you will see how she instills those principles with her team; in this excellent video you will see:

• Pressure defense drills
• Small group defensive drills
• Whole group defensive drills
• Toughness drills & more!

No matter your style of play, a coach can always instill more grit and toughness within a team. This video will set you up for great success as you raise the level of your team’s pressure defense!

‘Camp Grit’ Warm-up
To begin practice, players are put through position work in groups of two working on pick and roll and pistol reads on offense. From there players are split into three groups to maximize time and repetitions. Each group works on a different skill from ball handling to agility and then rotate in the Two-Minute Drill. After the warm-up, they meet in the middle of the court for the emphasis and motivation of the day.

Small Group Defensive Drills
After the team meeting in the middle, players quickly transition to the Charge Hustle Drill which develops heart and toughness - Player’s closeout, take a charge, grab a loose ball, and hustle to the other end to finish at the rim against contact!

The ‘Four Quarter Killer’ teaches players to stick to the fundamentals of defense even if they are tired. Players must complete four segments of on ball defense to create a deflection. The 1,2,3,4 Defense is a combo of four drills that quickly move from one to the next. From finishing at the rim to closeouts to “DCMB” (defensive conditioning of the mind and body). DCMB reinforces the little things that make their defense successful - the ‘little things’ that need to be repeated every day to ensure continuity and results.

Rebounding
You cannot end any possession without a defensive rebound! Rebounding is so important, so Coach Miller puts her team through two rebounding drills that reward a stop with offensive transition. You will see their principles in action with the 2 on 2 and 3 on 2 rebounding drills.

Cutthroat Drills
The next segment shows everything start to come together as the intensity ramps up exponentially! Three different cutthroat drills are explained and shown with the players. Each time restrictions are put on what the offense and defense can do. Moving from 3 on 3 to 4 on 4 you will see an efficient way to instill hard work, communication, and toughness! The Cutthroat Seam Drill is a great drill that gets players talking as switch coverages are presented in a 5 on 4 disadvantage scenario.

Screen Coverages and Shell Defense
To continue the momentum, players go through their different ball screen coverages starting with the trap. You will see again how much intensity is brought out of the players and how beneficial these drills can be with your team’s success and identity. The Shell Drill is somewhat different in how it also incorporates transition defense as offensive players must give up the ball on the whistle. The offense has full freedom to do what they want which will help keep the defense honest in their approach. On the whistle, the team with the ball must set it down or pass to the other team which begins the two full court trips.

If you are looking for ways to improve your team’s toughness and defense, this video is hands down the one for you! You will get everything you need and more to install a lockdown defense!

Customer Review: 5 Out of 5 Stars!
“This was a GREAT video - I loved the drills and teaching points. Coach Miller is a fantastic teacher of defense!”

135 minutes. 2025.