In a strategic move to reinvigorate their basketball program, Texas has appointed Sean Miller, previously with Xavier, as their new head coach. This decision comes after Texas faced setbacks in the Southeastern Conference and their recent elimination from the NCAA Tournament at the hands of Miller’s Xavier team. Following the recent departure of Rodney Terry from the coaching position, Texas announced Miller’s hiring barely a week after Xavier’s victory over the Longhorns in the First Four game of the tournament. Xavier, however, exited the competition in the subsequent round against Illinois.
Miller, who is now transitioning to Texas, brings a wealth of experience from his previous stints at both Xavier and Arizona, including 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and four Elite Eight runs. His overall coaching record stands at an impressive 487-196 over 20 seasons. At 56, this marks his second departure from Xavier to lead a major program, having previously left in 2009 to coach Arizona before returning in 2022.
The university is enthusiastic about Miller taking the reins, with Kevin Eltife, chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, praising his coaching pedigree. Reflecting on Miller’s past teams, Eltife noted their well-coached nature, their ability to compete at the highest levels, and their entertaining style of play. Miller’s task will be to guide Texas back to prominence, especially as they navigate the competitive landscape of the SEC. Last season, Texas struggled, finishing 14th in the 16-team conference, and saw an early tournament exit.
At Xavier, Miller achieved substantial success during two separate coaching periods; initially, from 2004-2009, he led the team to four consecutive NCAA tournaments. His tenure at Arizona saw him achieve 302 victories and secure five Pac-12 regular-season titles. However, his career faced scrutiny due to an FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball in 2017, which involved recruiting violations and academic misconduct at Arizona. Though Miller was dismissed post the 2020-2021 season, he was eventually cleared of sanctions, although two of his assistants faced penalties.
Returning to Xavier, Miller achieved a 65-40 record, including two tournament appearances, before accepting the new opportunity with Texas. Athletic Director Chris Del Conte expressed confidence in Miller as the ideal choice, citing his comprehensive skill set and leadership capabilities. Miller’s mission is to revamp and elevate the Longhorns, who had an unimpressive SEC season, finishing with a 6-12 record despite robust individual performances, such as from Tre Johnson, the freshman of the year.
Previously, Rodney Terry stepped in as interim head coach midseason after Chris Beard’s dismissal due to unresolved domestic violence charges. Under Terry, the Longhorns reached their deepest tournament performance since 2008 but failed to sustain that momentum. Subsequently, Terry’s tenure ended following a lackluster first SEC season despite his multi-year contract. Meanwhile, Chris Beard, whose charges were eventually dropped, has since taken a job with Mississippi and led their team to notable success.