In a move that's caught the eye of college hoops fans everywhere, the University of Texas Longhorns have snagged Xavier's Sean Miller to be their new head men’s basketball coach. Just last week, Miller led Xavier in handing the Longhorns a stinging defeat in the NCAA's first four, and now he's set to take the reins in Austin. CBS Austin reports, "Sean Miller to be their next head men’s basketball coach. Miller will be introduced at press conference on Tuesday," marking a swift transition from the NCAA tournament upset to his new post at Texas.
Miller, who sports a robust coaching record of 487-196 with four trips to the Elite Eight and eight to the Sweet 16, is no stranger to the coaching carousel. He boasts 20 years of head coaching experience, split between Xavier and the University of Arizona. As he gets ready to breathe new life into the Longhorns' basketball program, Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte believes they have struck gold. "He certainly checks all the boxes, is exactly what we’re looking for in every facet as a leader," Del Conte told Fox Sports in his vision of Miller helming the team.
Miller's appointment follows the ousting of Rodney Terry, who after leading Texas to an Elite Eight run, could not quite find steady success in the SEC, with the Longhorns finishing 14th in the 16-team conference. Despite this, Miller inherits a team with potential, including standout SEC freshman of the year Tre Johnson, though he's tipped for the NBA draft. Turning over a new leaf, Texas is evidently poised to sharply pivot from their tumultuous season to hopefully greener SEC pastures.
Amid the coaching shuffle, Texas is keenly aware of Miller's controversial past. He was implicated but later cleared in an NCAA investigation into Arizona for recruiting violations. But Texas officials are looking ahead. In a statement obtained by CBS Austin, Lois and Richard Folger Athletics Director Chris Del Conte expressed his excitement: "I’m so excited about the future of our men’s basketball program and thrilled to add another phenomenal coach to our Longhorn Family." The sentiment is clear: Texas is ready to close the book on a chapter marked by some discord and open anew with a coach known to have consistently shaped successful teams.
Miller's return to Xavier had seen a modest yet noteworthy performance, going 65-40 with two NCAA Tournament appearances, and a season ending with a respectable 22-12 record. The coach now looks to replicate and exceed those results in Austin, where expectations will invariably be high. The Longhorns are certainly hoping Miller's playbook can turn the page and finally anchor their team as a contender in college basketball's increasingly competitive landscape.
