Monday afternoon, the Panther basketball program took its first steps forwards after the Rick Samuels era, as Eastern announced Mike Miller would be the school’s first new head coach in 25 years.

Miller was the associate head coach at Kansas State the past five scenes, and he said now is the right moment for him to take the reigns of the Panther program.

“I think it is a good time to be at Eastern Illinois University,” he said.

Director of athletics Rich McDuffie said Miller was the unanimous choice by the search committee and the players.

For more coverage, see Tuesday’s issue of the Daily Eastern News or online at www.thedailyeasternnews.com.