Shimmy Gray-Miller is an award-winning leader, dynamic communicator, and influential advocate. Her over 20-year collegiate women’s basketball coaching career coupled with her Master’s Degree in Athletic Leadership and Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Law have made her a champion for mental and physical health, justice, and equity.
Inducted into the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame in 2014, she proudly represents the community that raised her. For Gray-Miller, success is more than the conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances she has led her teams to, the WNBA-drafted players she has helped develop, or the notoriety she has achieved as a collegiate and professional player.
Her digital platform, coachshimmy.com, reveals her purpose: to empower women to maximize every step of life’s journey and ensure equitable opportunities exist for them to make the most of their potential.
With humor, courage, and vulnerability, she has led hundreds of young women throughout her prolific coaching career at the University of Washington, University of Arizona, Saint Louis University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Florida, Texas Tech University, Clemson University, and the University of Minnesota.
From on-court player development to serving as the first mental health liaison for the Twin Cities women’s basketball program, Gray-Miller is driven by a passion for wellness. Informed by the additional stressors Black and bi-racial women face, she is on a mission to mitigate those adversities while ensuring all women are supported and provided for. And she is teaching leaders like her to do the same.
A powerful trainer and speaker for conferences and events, Gray-Miller have an inclusive approach to team, culture, and community building centered around individual growth.
By creating space for others to be seen and heard, Gray-Miller leads individuals to own who they are, build strong connections with one another, and create impact together.
Speaking Topics -
Turning our biggest challenges into our most powerful motivations
The importance of mental health
Owning who you are
Empowering women to overcome and achieve
