After passing on the Arizona job yesterday Xavier University men’s basketball coach Sean Miller has accepted the head coaching job at the University of Arizona just a few moments ago.
Over his five seasons at Xavier, Miller led the Musketeers to a 120-47 record. He has been very successful In the NCAA men’s tournament taking his team to the “Elite Eight” last season and the “Sweet Sixteen” this season.
Miller wasn’t the first choice for Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood, whom he met Sunday in Albuquerque, N.M. Arizona tried in vain to convince Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Pitt’s Jamie Dixon and then-Memphis coach John Calipari (before he went to Kentucky), and even went as far as to bring USC’s Tim Floyd on campus for an interview and offer, but couldn’t get any of them to take the job. They found a willing partner, after much haggling, in Miller.
Miller will have his hands full now that the Wildcats have missed out on two recruiting classes. Incoming recruit Brandon Jennings went to Europe, freshman Jeff Withey transferred to Kansas and top signee for next season Abdul Gaddy got out of commitment to go to rival Washington. If Budinger, Hill and Wise leave as expected, then the Wildcats will likely be picked to finish last in the Pac-10 next season.
Home