2012-13 Men's Basketball Guide as a PDF File - University of ...

Sean Miller At A GlanceDate of Birth: Nov. 17, 1968, in Pittsburgh, Pa.Alma Mater (degree):University of Pittsburgh, 1992 (B.A., communications)Family:Wife: Amy; Sons: Austin (17), Cameron (14), Braden (11)Coaching ChronologyArizona 2009-pres. Three years, Head CoachXavier 2004-09 Five years, Head CoachXavier 2001-04 Three years, Associate Head CoachN.C. State 1996-2001 Five years, Assistant CoachPittsburgh 1995-96 One year, Assistant CoachMiami, Ohio 1993-95 Two years, Assistant CoachWisconsin 1992-93 One year, Assistant Coachoutings, a figure that was the lowest scoring defense figure forthe program since 1985-86. The Cats played in the Pac-12 tournamentchampionship game for the second straight year and had apair of all-conference performers.The 2010-11 club won 30 games, captured the Pac-10 regularseasonchampionship, advanced to the NCAA West Regionalfinal and produced the No. 2 selection in the 2011 NBA Draft.Additionally, he re-established and strengthened recruiting tiesthat allowed the Cats to land a top-10 class in 2011, a top-threeclass in 2012 and build consistently elite ones in the future.While those achievements are certainly worth noting, it’s thebeneath-the-surface facts that indicate that Miller and his chargesmight be on the verge of something special in the Old Pueblo.In just one season under his guidance, the Wildcats showedvast improvements in all the things that championship clubs doso well: increased points per game, shooting percentages, rebounds,rebound margin and assists, and decreased points, shootingpercentages, fewer rebounds and more turnovers out of theopposition. All of that culminated in a 30-8 overall record andthe Pac-10 title, Miller’s fourth league crown in the previous fiveseasons.Such statistical improvements were mirrored individually too,as the 2010-11 Wildcats displayed more poise, were more fundamentallysound, and were stronger and more assertive on thecourt, a testament to Miller’s total program development.Nowhere was that individual development better displayedthan with Derrick Williams. The 6-foot-8 forward blossomedinto the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2010 and Pac-10 Playerof-the-Yearand consensus All-America accolades in 2011. Williamswent from the least heralded of Miller’s initial five-manrecruiting class to the second overall pick in the NBA Draft.The college basketball world has begun to take notice as UAwas ranked as high as No. 10 in both major college basketballpolls in 2010-11 – a first for the program in four seasons – andMiller earned 2011 Pac-10 and NABC District 20 Coach-of-the-Year honors for his efforts.Miller guided UA to a 16-15 record in 2009-10, making drasticimprovements from start to finish, and, more importantly, puttinginto play his belief that there is no such thing as a quick fix.Hard work and a dedicated effort each day breeds success. Hischarges have honored that process each day since.Prior to moving west, Miller, 43, completed five seasons ashead coach at Xavier in 2008-09, and carries a career coachingrecord of 166-70 (.703) in seven seasons as a collegiate headcoach to go with four conference regular-season championships,one postseason tournament title and two 30-winseasons.While at XU, his clubs posted four consecutive 20-victoryseasons and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.2012-13 University of Arizona Men’s BasketballCoaching StaffThe Musketeers won three Atlantic-10 Conference regularseasonchampionships and Miller guided two Xavier teams tothe Sweet 16, in 2008 and 2009. He is the school’s overallcoaching leader in NCAA play with a 6-4 record in his share ofXavier’s 20 tournament appearances.Miller’s 2008-09 club won the A-10 championship finishingwith a 27-8 record. The Musketeers lost to No. 1-seed Pitt asthe No. 4 seed in the East Regional in Boston. XU was rankedNo. 20 in the final Associated Press poll and was rankedsteadily after Nov. 25, rising as high as No. 7 on Dec. 15 andholding a spot in the top 10 (ninth) on Feb. 2.As a player, Miller participated in three NCAA Tournamentsfor Pittsburgh (1988, 1989 and 1991), coached in one as anassistant at Miami, Ohio, (1995) and in three as associate headcoach at Xavier from 2002-04. His Xavier squad reached theElite Eight in 2008.Moreover, Miller’s work with his student-athletes off thecourt paid outstanding dividends with 100 percent (23-of-23) ofthe basketball seniors who completed their eligibility since1996 graduating. While a head coach, 16 Xavier players earnedtheir degrees with an additional pair expected to do so in thenear future. Since his arrival at Arizona, all seven of theWildcats to complete eligibility under Miller have earneddegrees as well.His success with his student-athletes both on and off thecourt echoes the fact that Miller genuinely cares for their wellbeing. That complete commitment to his charges is a strongindication of his character.“It’s easy to be a fan of Sean. I can’t think of anyone in theprofession who is more honest and more loyal. Sean is asgood a person as there is in college basketball,” said MikeDeCourcy of The Sporting News.He is Arizona’s sixth appointed head coach in the last 87years, dating to a 36-year run by Fred A. Enke from 1925 to1961 and concluding with Lute Olson’s remarkable stint from1984 to 2007.Miller’s 30-7 record in 2007-08 set a Xavier record forvictories in a season, and helped earn him Atlantic-10 Conferencehonors, along with his 14-2 record and second A-10regular-season title. The National Association of BasketballCoaches named Miller its District 10 Coach of the Year and hewas a finalist for a number of other national coaching honors.His record at Xavier (120-47) ranks him third all time on theschool’s coaching chart behind Pete Gillen (202-75 from 1985-94) and the late Skip Prosser (148-65 from 1994-2001).27