Sparks Coach Curt Miller Shares Powerful Message for Pride Month

As basketball’s only openly gay male head coach, Curt Miller of the Los Angeles Sparks takes his responsibilities as a spokesperson and role model seriously.

Especially during Pride Month.

Before the Sparks’ game Monday night against the Las Vegas Aces, Miller explained why he’s not afraid to speak up for those who might one day follow in his footsteps.

“It’s really important to me to continue to provide visibility and representation to the coaches behind me,” Miller said. “I didn’t have a role model. I didn’t have anyone to call and go to for guidance as a gay man in sport.”

Miller, 55, pledged to “continue to carry this banner” until greater progress is possible for young gay people in the sport of basketball.

Miller, whose coaching career spanned 22 years in Division I and the WNBA, lamented the fact that he had seen “so many young gay men in basketball…including the NBA and the G League, give up pursuing their dream because there aren’t many chances.” visibility or representation outside of myself.

He punctuated his pre-match remarks with a social media post explaining the reasons for his fervent advocacy.

“For the longest time, I didn’t want to be known as the gay head coach but simply as the successful coach,” Miller wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “However, too many young coaches are concerned about advancement and opportunity, so I will continue to carry the banner and challenge decision makers to open the doors for others!”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sparks coach Curt Miller offers support for gay men in basketball