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ULACD Makes College Basketball History

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The University of Los Angeles College of Divinity (ULACD) basketball team, led by one of California's most successful high school and college coaches, Michael Miller, posted the second-best record in the nation of any four-year college over the last four years.

From 2018-2022, ULACD, which is located in Compton, California and plays as an independent, produced a record of 105-8, for a winning percentage of 93%. Only Northwest Missouri State, which plays in NCAA Division II, had a better record during the same four-year span at 126-8 (94%).

While ULACD shattered all winning records in the state of California during the last four-years, their most amazing achievement has been playing in the last three ACCA National Championship games. They won the 2019-20 ACCA National Championship, and were runner-ups in 2020-21 and 2021-22. During the 2019-2020 season ULACD produced their best record (30-1) while winning the ACCA National Championship, defeating a very well coached Ozark Christian College on their home floor 97-89 on March 7, 2020. In the victory, Coach Miller made history by becoming the first coach to coach a high school state title team (Ribet Academy 1990-91), a junior college state title team (Los Angeles City College 1996-97 and 2002-03) and a national title team.

Coach Miller has won where ever he has coached. Miller was the first head coach to lead a high school team and a junior college team to a state title. While at Los Angeles City College, from 1992-2007, Miller had a record-breaking run of 14 consecutive conference championships. His LACC teams compiled an overall record of 241-38 from 1999-2007 for a winning percentage of .864, exceeding all NCAA Division I Programs during the same time.

ULACD is a proud five-year member of the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) based in Joplin, Missouri. The ACCA was founded in 1982 and its current President is Chris Lahm. Lahm is the highly respected, and veteran coach and administrator of Ozark Christian College, and newly elected to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Hall of Fame.

For more information on ULACD please visit http://universityoflosangeles.org/.

To learn more about Coach Michael "Mike" Miller please visit https://www.coachmiller.net/.

Related link: http://www.universityoflosangeles.org/

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University of Los Angeles College of Divinity Captures The First National Championship of March Madness

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- In only its third season of fielding a men's basketball team the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity (ULACD) overcomes all odds to win the ACCA national championship in Joplin, Missouri.

Despite an overall season record of 27-1 ULACD received a four (4) seed entering the first National Championship tournament of March Madness March 4-7, 2020 hosted by the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri.

In the first game ULACD faced off against fifth seed Baptist Bible College from Missouri, the Alma Mater of famed evangelist Jerry Falwell. Baptist Bible College came into the game with a record of 16-7 led by Missouri Hall of Fame coach Darin Meinders. Despite playing less than an hour away from their campus in Springfield, Missouri, Baptist Bible College fell 106-92 to ULACD in a sloppy high scoring hard played contest. Both teams combined for 39 turnovers and 45 fouls but ULACD led at half time 53-38 and dominated with points at the free throw line 26-11.

ULACD was led by Jerron Wilbut's 37 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Wilbut went 13/15 from the free throw line, missing his last two throws and 4/6 from the 3 point line. Junior point guard KV Myricks scored 20 points while grabbing 7 rebounds and handing out 3 assists. Back-up forward Johan Meclot came off the bench and recorded a double-double of 10 rebounds and 10 points with 2 assists. Second team All-American Troy Biglow scored 11 points in only 13 minutes of action while battling foul trouble. Kelton Conway added 12 points and 6 rebounds as he was the fifth ULACD player to be in double Figures.

In the end ULACD followed coach Miller's formula of establishing superior field goal percentage shooting almost 61% while holding Baptist Bible College to only 39%. Baptist Bible College was only able to stay in the game by shooting an amazing 48 3 point field goals.

In the National Semi-Final ULACD faced Off against number 1 seed Champion Christian College (CCC) from Hot Springs, Arkansas and their coach Leonard Epps. ULACD and CCC played an entertaining back and forth affair with 12 lead changes and 5 ties. ULACD was down 41-37 while Shooting only 34% at half but outscored the top seeded team by 12 while shooting 60.7% in the second half 47-35.

ULACD finally prevailed 84-76 winning the assist matchup 19 to 11 while shooting 16/19 from the free throw line. ULACD was led by Sophomore second team All-American Troy Biglow's dominating performance with 30 points and 15 rebounds in 40 minutes of game action. Honorable Mention All-American KV Myricks had another stellar effort of 18 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Playing a complete game Despite shooting only 1/6 at the three point line, Senior Jerron Wilbut nearly had a triple double with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Kelton Conway again talked double figures with 15 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 30 minutes of action.

In the Championship game ULACD took on the home team Ozark Christian College (OCC) and their veteran coach Chris Lahm, an excellent Coach with over 600 career wins at the Four-Year college level. Although the home crowd loudly cheered OCC throughout, the visiting team from Compton, California finally prevailed 97-89.

ULACD led at halftime 52-45 despite having cumbersome foul trouble. Despite being the smaller Team ULACD won the battle of the boards in the first half 19-17 and had 13 first assists at half time compared to only 4 for OCC. ULACD also won the shooting percentage war shooting 54.5% from the floor compared to 45% for OCC; and 54.5% from the three point line compared to 38.5% for OCC.

In the final stanza ULACD outscored OCC 45-44 while shooting 44.7% to 42.9% for the home team. ULACD overcame an outstanding free throw effort by OCC who made 22/24 foul shots for the game. OCC with a bigger and deeper team, ultimately won the battle of the boards in the end 43-38. ULACD won the assist battle 20-13 in the end.

Leading the team to victory for ULACD was tournament MVP and 1st team All-American Jerron Wilbut who tallied 31 points, 5 assists and 8 rebounds. OCC played excellent defense causing the ULACD starting backcourt, of Juniors Dupree Mitchell and KV Myricks, to combine for a season low 10 points. Reserve freshman guard Devone Brown scored 11 points and added 4 rebounds off the bench.

The difference in the game was the ULACD starting forwards, both Junior College transfers. Junior small forward Kelton Conway was the key to the game making 5/10 three point field goals, while adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists for a total of 22 points. Complimenting Conway was fellow El Camino Real HS graduate sophomore forward Troy Biglow who added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in limited Minutes due to fouling out. Reserve senior forward Johan Meclot came off the bench and played outstanding defense while grabbing 6 rebounds and scoring 6 difference making points.

The exciting championship game had 6 lead changes. In the end and Against all odds ULACD cut down the nets and captured their first National Championship in only their third year of having a men's basketball program.

In the victory, ULACD Head Coach Michael Miller made history by becoming the first coach to win a high school state title, a junior college state title and a national title.

Coach Miller was the first Coach in the history of California to coach both a high school (Ribet Academy 1990-91) and junior college teams (Los Angeles City College 1997-98 and 2002-03) to state titles.

With ULACD's surprising string of victories in the ACCA's 38th annual national tournament; Coach Miller's added national championship (ULACD 2019-20) set a new trifecta record never before achieved by any basketball coach.

More information on ULACD: http://universityoflosangeles.org/

Related link: http://www.universityoflosangeles.org/

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University of Los Angeles College of Divinity (ULACD) and Coach Mike Miller Notch Nations Second Best Two-Year Record of 56-4 Among All Four-Year Colleges from 2018-19 to 2019-20

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The Association of Christian College Athletics announce 2020 Championship Tournament Bracket. Despite a wonderful record of 27-1 the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity (ULACD) has a very tough road ahead as the fourth seed.

It all starts Thursday with a game against Baptist Bible College from Missouri, famous for being the Alma Mater of Liberty University founder Jerry Falwell. The game will be televised live on the ACCA YouTube channel at 2:30 p.m. Central Time on March 5, 2020. The game can be seen at: http://youtube.com/accasports.

In the same bracket is top seeded Champion Christian College from Hot Springs Arkansas. Both Baptist Bible College and Champion Christian College have outstanding experienced coaches that boast high scoring teams with excellent deep shooting guards.

Those styles contrast with ULACD which is defensive focused and prideful about those defensive efforts. One example of that came on January 12, 2020 when Coach Michael (Mike) Miller beamed after the 81-48 victory against Cety's University, from Mexico. On the Coach Miller post game show coach Miller was asked by TV personality Ronnie Wald about the effort in the nights home court victory over the high scoring Mexican University who tallied 99 points in a win the night before.

Dr. Miller noted the pregame goal to hold the high scoring team to 50 points was achieved with great intensity of effort and the leadership of Senior returning ACCA 1st team All-American Jerron Wilbut (23.5 ppg, 9 rpg and 5 apg) and Junior team captain Dupree Mitchell (10 ppg and 4 apg).

Notably the third year team from Compton with no one taller than 6'4 and a roster of nine players has been consistently tough Defensively, especially in the latter part of the season. Junior college transfers, forward Troy Biglow (22 ppg and 8 rpg), guard KV Myricks (15.5 ppg and 3.5 apg) and Kelton Conway (11ppg, 4 rpg and 3apg) have made outstanding contributions to the defensive effort and also averaged double figures in points. Other team members are freshmen newcomers Samuel Rodrigues, Devone Brown and Josh Thompson and returning senior Johan Meclot (6 ppg and 5 rpg) as well as returning sophomore Dutch Samples.

The assistant coaches are Isaac Gordon and Wendell Westbrook, who was alongside coach Michael "Mike" Miller for over a decade at Los Angeles City College "LACC" during the record-breaking run of 14 straight conference championships. Coach Westbrook was the associate head coach at LACC from 1999-2000 to 2006-07 when the LACC teams compiled an overall record of 241-38 in eight seasons with a winning percentage of .864, exceeding all NCAA Division I Programs during the same time period.

More information on ULACD: http://universityoflosangeles.org/

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Coach Michael Miller and the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity Announces Jerron Wilbut Declares for the NBA Draft

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Coach Michael Miller and the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity announce former Seton Hall recruit Jerron Wilbut's decision to declare for the NBA Draft.

Dr. Michael Miller, the head basketball coach of the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity (ULACD) announced today that junior guard Jerron Wilbut has declared for the NBA draft as an early entry participant prior to NBA draft ahead of the deadline of April 21, 2019.

Dr. Miller, the ultra-successful former basketball coach at Los Angeles City College (LACC) had this to say about Jerron Wilbut: "Jerron was one of our team Captains and our best player and he led us to a 29-3 record in only our second year of fielding an intercollegiate team." Dr. Miller went on to say, "I couldn't be more proud of Jerron's decision to move ahead with his professional career. We are busy interviewing agents and he is keeping all of his options open as he takes this next step in basketball to help himself and his family."

Wilbut, originally from Chicago, had a stellar season on and off the court while leading ULACD in scoring with 27 points per game along with a team high 8 assists per game. Wilbut also added 7 rebounds per game while playing stellar defense on multiple positions demonstrating his versatility.

ULACD was seeking its first national championship in only the second year of fielding a team at the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) post season tournament held in Joplin, Missouri. While ULACD came up short losing in the semi-finals to the eventual National Champion Arlington Baptist (Texas) in a back and forth contest decided 88-80. The next day, in the third place game against Carolina Christian College, Wilbut tallied a game high 33 points and 10 rebounds in 91-77 ULACD victory.

"I have coached for over 35 years and have never had one player that meant more to his team than Jerron did to ours this season," stated coach Michael Miller. This is illustrated by the close loss ULACD suffered January 4, 2019 on the road at UC Santa Cruz; coached by a former NBA assistant coach Ron DuBois. "Jerron kept us in that game and we almost stole a win on the road as he tallied 42 points while shooting over 53 percent from 3 point range on January 4, 2019." VIDEO - https://youtu.be/XYY0xztWhBM.

Later in a rematch with UC Santa Cruz on January 27, 2019 in Compton, the ULACD Cub's destroyed the Banana Slugs by a final score of 91-77 with Jerron Wilbut tallying 37 points and 6 assists along with adding 8 rebounds.

Dr. Michael Miller, the former LACC head coach who broke numerous national records while at Los Angeles City College (LACC) including coaching his team to 14 straight conference championships which was tied last season by Bill Self and University of Kansas, said of Wilbut's ability: "If Jerron had played for us at LACC he would have been able to go to any high major conference and compete to be all-conference player like so many of our other players did."

Coach Miller told Oklahoma City Thunder scout Mark Warkentien: "Wilbut is as good a guard as I've ever had at LACC."

That's extremely high praise as coach Miller was responsible for sending over 100 players to Division 1 universities including players in every major conference on such teams as Kansas, Oklahoma, Providence, UNLV, Miami, LSU and Oregon State to name a few.

Learn more at: http://universityoflosangeles.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LACOLLEGEOFDIV1

VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/XYY0xztWhBM

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Former L.A. County Sheriff Leroy ‘Lee’ Baca Joins the Faculty at the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy "Lee" Baca, who retired as the top law enforcement officer in LA County in 2014, was appointed as a professor announced the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity in Compton, Calif. (ULACD). Ironically Sheriff Baca was previously responsible for the LA County Sheriff's department taking over the policing in Compton from the local Compton Police department in 2000, saving the city over $8 million.

Sheriff Baca has served as a college professor previously both at Cerritos College and the University of Laverne. He has earned two advanced degrees from USC; a M.P.A. in 1974 as well as his Doctorate, a D.P.A. in Public Administration in 1993. Dr. Baca also possesses a Credential in Vocational Education from UCLA, which was earned in 1972 after earning his B.A. in Administration of Justice from Cal State Los Angeles in 1971 and his A.A. degree from East LA College in 1964. Additionally Baca was in the United States Marine Corps as a reserve for six years.

"Baca is a gifted teacher who has the rare ability to take the most complex subject and make it seem simple," stated ULACD Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Michael Miller. "The Sheriff has learned how to change the behavior of people by making teaching small. He is gifted at taking the big and making it small he has changed dynamics within a work force of over 18,000 people. He has demonstrated a capacity to connect at many levels of government and to diverse groups of people. These same skills will greatly benefit our students and the community we serve in Compton, Watts, South Central Los Angeles and parts of Long Beach, as a University," Dr. Miller emphasized.

Sheriff Baca grew up in East Los Angeles and graduated from Franklin HS as the senior class president in 1960. Baca was uniquely qualified to be sheriff of LA County after having served or supervised in 19 different assignments (almost every Sheriff station in L.A. County) during his 49 year career in the Sheriff's Department.

Baca's legendary career started as a sworn deputy in 1965. Baca was appointed to Sergeant in 1970 and Lieutenant in 1975. Baca served in or supervised in 19 different assignments (almost every Sheriff station in L.A. County) during his career. He made Captain in 1981 and Commander in 1987. He ably served former Sheriff Sherman Block as Chief Deputy for six years from 1992 until his election as Sheriff in 1998. Sheriff Baca served 15 years as Sheriff and the top law enforcement official in Los Angeles County.

Sheriff Baca lad the expansion of the Sheriff's department and was responsible for not only taking over the Compton Police department, but also the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) police department and the Los Angeles Community College Police Department. These actions saved LA County and the City of Compton untold millions of dollars.

Lee Baca served with great distinction and was responsible for developing the Core Values Statement of the department, which helped create a better understanding of how precious the value of human life is. "Sheriff Baca believes that fundamentally that there is a greatness to every human being and that God is involved with every person's life weather they think so or not and this belief makes him a perfect teacher and role model for Christian students," explained Dr. Miller.

When asked about hiring someone who has a felony conviction on his record Dr. Miller quoted Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." He went on to say, "Obviously many prosecutions are politically based and let's not forget the Sheriff in his first trail was voted 11-1 not guilty. In the second trial, several former sheriff's testified against him in order to gain favor for themselves."

The bible states clearly man should not judge others as explained in Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

L.A. County Sheriff Core Values developed by Sheriff Baca

As a leader in the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department, I commit myself to
Honorably perform my duties with respect
For the dignity of all people,

Integrity to do right and fight wrongs,

Wisdom to apply common sense and fairness in all I do, and

Courage to stand against racism, sexism,
Anti-Semitism, homophobia and bigotry
In all its forms.

Learn more: http://www.universityoflosangeles.org/

About University of Los Angeles College of Divinity:
The University of Los Angeles's mission is to teach and train servant leaders to excel spiritually, intellectually, and practically in the ministry and selected lay vocations. Our Christian College exists to help building the Church, advance the work of God and impact society through embodying excellence in programs of Christian higher education and development in Christian faith, thought and practice.

The University accomplishes this mission through a comprehensive program of biblical, theological, and general education, Christ-centered service and support, and applied scholarship in practical environments.

- We nurture the talents of each other.

- We inspire a sense of responsibility for each other.

- We challenge each other to embrace diversity.

- We motivate each other to respond compassionately to the needs of others, especially the poor.

- We provide exceptional and unparalleled programs to students of all diverse intellectual and academic backgrounds.

- We set high standards for each student through individualized and advanced curriculum.

More information: http://www.universityoflosangeles.org/

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Web photo caption: Former LA County Sheriff Lee Baca and University of Los Angeles College of Divinity Vice President of Academic Affairs Michael Miller after signing Volunteer Agreement to become a professor at the Compton institution. (send2press.com/wire/images/18-0813-baca-and-miller-696x522.jpg)

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