Kansas University director of basketball operations Ben Miller on Wednesday accepted an assistant-coaching position at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.

Miller, who has been a fixture in KU’s hoops office the past 12 years, said he never would forget his time spent on Mount Oread.

“I feel very fortunate to have been part of the magic of Kansas basketball,” said the 35-year-old Miller, who worked one year for head coach Bill Self after 11 with Roy Williams.

“It’s crazy. It’s hard to believe we’ve been here 12 years. It’s gone by fast. My wife is really sad to be leaving Lawrence. I’m sad after working with so many great coaches and players and administrators.

“But it’s only a three-hour drive. We’ll try to sneak back sometime and definitely will be rooting for the Jayhawks to cut down some nets next season.”

Miller, a full-time assistant during part of the Williams era, is eager to return to bench coaching and recruiting next season as he pursues a possible head-coaching career.

“Coach Self was great in giving me the opportunity to stay here as long as I wanted to,” Miller said. “You never know, down the road, if a position opened up here, it’s definitely something I’d be interested in. I learned so much working with coach Self and his staff.

“Coach Williams 12 years ago didn’t know me at all and gave an inexperienced graduate assistant a chance to be assistant JV coach at Kansas. That led to other opportunities in the program. I owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Self said Miller would be missed.

“Ben is awesome,” Self said. “He and his family have been an integral part of Kansas basketball over the last several years. He loves the University of Kansas and has done a tremendous job with the program over time. I believe Ben has all the components to become an excellent coach and eventual head coach.”

Padgett talking to UNC Ben Miller

Miller, who will start at SMS in July, said he had fond memories of the great players with whom he had worked.

“I remember Scott Novosel … I had a chance to work with him on the JV team. I’ll never forget the look on his face when coach Williams moved him to varsity and told him he would start on Senior Day, guarding Randy Rutherford.

“More recently, watching the junior class take over last year’s team in terms of leadership. Also, going undefeated in the league (2001-02), the feeling when we beat Oregon to go to the Final Four after a little drought — also going back the next year and having a great chance to win it all. It was gratifying to see guys like Kirk (Hinrich) and Nick (Collison) come so far in their careers.”

He’s excited about the potential at Southwest Missouri State.

“Coach (Barry) Hinson is one of the best in the business,” Miller said of the SMS coach, who is good friends with Self, Williams and UNC assistant Joe Holladay. “He and his staff have done a great job recruiting at SMS, and they’ve got a talented group of players coming back next year.”

Hinson calls the Miller hiring a coup.

“Ben is a wonderful addition to our staff, and we’re thrilled with having him join us with the expertise he brings to SMS in a number of areas,” Hinson said. “He’s learned from some of the best coaches out there, and he’s ideally suited for our university and our program.

“I’ve known Ben for a number of years, and he’s a quality young man and an excellent basketball coach.”

It’s believed Danny Manning will replace Miller as director of basketball operations. Manning’s position of director of student-athlete development/team manager likely will be eliminated.