"We're very excited to have Miller on board," coach Antal said. "Her passion, drive, and expertise will undoubtedly have an immediate impact on the program. She has a wealth of experience in developing successful players at all levels. She will be an incredible addition to our App State family."

Hales brings in a vast knowledge of tennis to the High Country as a player and as a professional from several country clubs. Before coming to App State, she was an assistant tennis professional and USTA Junior Team tennis coach at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.

In Hales' second season, she helped lead Helena Jansen to all-conference honors, being named to the All-Sun Belt First Team in singles. Jansen went undefeated against conference opponents and finished the regular season with six straight singles wins and an overall record of 15-7.

In Hales' first season with the Mountaineers, she contributed to María José Zacarias and Ksenia Aleshina being named All-Sun Belt First Team in doubles following a 10-4 overall and 7-2 in league action. 

The pairing's 10 wins led No. 1 doubles and the 7-2 mark also led all No. 1 doubles tandems in the Sun Belt. Zacarias/Aleshina put together a season-best six-match win streak and finished the year with an 8-1 showing over their last nine contests. 

Helena Jansen and Sandra Anglesjö were 10-3 overall. The two, 10-win doubles pairings led the Sun Belt in cominbed doubles victories. Jansen was nominated for Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year because of her doubles efforts, while she led the team with eight singles victories. 

Zacarias stepped up as the No. 1 with seven wins, which were tied for second with Aleshina. Zacarias was named Sun Belt Player of the Week for the first time in her career after finishing 3-0 in doubles and 2-0 in singles as the No. 1 in both lineups.

She's spent time out west as the head tennis professional at The Club at Crested Butte in Colorado and a tennis instructor at the Park City Municipal Athletic Center in Utah. 

Before serving as a tennis professional at the Bald Head Island Club, she was the varsity girl's tennis head coach at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington. 

"I want to start off by thanking coach Antal for believing in me and trusting me to help her grow and develop the incredible young women of App State women's tennis," said Hales. "I am very confident that together we will cultivate a team dynamic on and off the court that will shine throughout the Sun Belt. I am thrilled for the opportunity and ready to dive into this program and its student-athletes. I love the Boone community, and wearing App State on my chest is an absolute honor. Together, our program will represent the University with pride. We will build a force to be reckoned with in collegiate tennis."

Hales earned her bachelor's degree in recreation, sports leadership, and tourism management while also playing tennis at UNC Wilmington. She enjoyed a solid career with the Seahawks, as she was an All-CAA member in doubles while helping UNCW capture the CAA Conference championships in 2014.