Xavier rewards Miller with contract extension
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Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Xavier University announced Thursday that
men's head basketball coach Sean Miller received a contract extension that
will keep him with the school through the 2015-16 season. As per school
policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Miller, who was originally hired on July 8, 2004 to replace Thad Matta, has guided the Musketeers to a 63-32 record. Xavier finished 25-9 overall this season, his third as head coach. The Musketeers won the 2007 Atlantic 10 Conference Regular Season Championship and advanced to the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament before losing to Ohio State, now coached by Matta. Miller finished 21-11 in the 2005-06 season, winning the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championship and earning a berth into the NCAA Tournament. "We had a great conversation today and discussed our mutual desire to solidify Sean's leadership role within our men's basketball program," said athletic director Mike Bobinski. "Xavier wanted to communicate clearly to Sean how pleased we are with his leadership of this very visible component of the University. Our agreement is a comprehensive one that is designed to ensure that Sean and the entire program will have the continued ability to compete at the highest level of Division I basketball." Prior to taking over as the head coach, Miller spent three seasons as the Musketeers' first-ever associate head coach and Xavier went 78-23 over that span, which included three straight 26-win seasons. The Musketeers also went 5-3 in the NCAA Tournament with Miller on the bench, which includes a trip to the 2004 Elite Eight. "I would like to thank (University President) Father Michael Graham, (Administrative Vice President) John Kucia, Mike Bobinski and the entire Xavier University community for this tremendous opportunity," said Miller. "I am very excited and look forward to continuing to lead our basketball program to greater success in our future together." The 36-year-old Miller, came to Xavier after previous coaching stints at North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Miami-Ohio and Wisconsin. A 1992 Pittsburgh graduate, Miller was the 1988 Big East Freshman of the Year and earned second team All-Big East honors as a senior. The point guard finished his collegiate career as the Panthers' all-time leader in assists (744) and free-throw percentage (.885), and scored 1,282 career points. XAVIER |