The Student News Site of University of Arizona

The Daily Wildcat

75° Tucson, AZ

The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Sean Miller staying in Arizona despite Pittsburgh rumors

Sean+Miller+shows+displeasure+during+the+Wildcats+quarterfinal+victory%26nbsp%3Bover+Colorado+in+the+Pac-12+Tournament%26nbsp%3Bon+Thursday%2C+March+10.
Tyler Baker

Sean Miller shows displeasure during the Wildcats’ quarterfinal victory over Colorado in the Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday, March 10.

Arizona fans had a hell of a scare Tuesday morning when rumors about Sean Miller heading to Pittsburgh grazed the Twitter universe.

The news was first reported by Rich Walsh from KDKA-TV Pittsburgh.

“Pitt is putting the full court press on Miller,” Walsh was told by sources.

Rumors came after former Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon left the program Monday for the head-coaching gig with TCU. 

Dixon had a considerably successful tenure with the Panthers since 2003, including two Sweet Sixteen appearances and one Elite Eight, one Big East Tournament championship and was named Naismith College Coach of the Year in 2009.

Both Jeff Goodman and Jon Rothstein repeatedly declined the rumors and said Miller would not be leaving Arizona any time soon.

That was until Miller himself came straight out and squashed the rumor.

“I have no interest in becoming the head coach at Pitt,” Miller said in a statement on Twitter. “I wish them luck in replacing Jamie Dixon, a tremendous coach and person, who did an incredible job in his time there.”

Goodman, an ESPN basketball insider, soon tweeted a picture of Miller walking outside McKale Center, providing visual evidence that Miller was not in Pittsburgh.

Miller has an overall record of 308-108 in his 12 years as head coach at both Arizona and Xavier, according to Sports Reference.

Also read: The many faces of Sean Miller and his ride to college basketball elite.

This is not the first time that Miller has been sought after by other programs.

Miller seriously flirted with the Maryland head coaching vacancy in May 2011. Coming off a defining victory over Duke in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, Miller engaged in talks with Maryland administrators about the job opening. 

Arizona fans sat through a nerve-wracking 48 hours waiting for Miller to decide between returning to the East Coast or keeping his job in Tucson.

Miller eventually decided on the latter by agreeing to a contract extension. 

He received a one-year contract extension in September 2015 through the 2019-2020 season. Miller was guaranteed $2.8 million this year, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Additionally, a retention plan is in place to reward Miller if he fulfills his contract at Arizona. 

Miller, football head coach Rich Rodriguez and athletic director Greg Byrne are all scheduled to receive a stock bonus set up by an anonymous Arizona booster.

Miller’s share could earn him upward of $4 million, according to the Daily Star.


Follow Matt Wall on Twitter.


More to Discover
Activate Search