Following the departure of men’s basketball head coach Rodney Terry, Texas has appointed former Xavier head coach Sean Miller as his replacement.
Xavier ended Texas’ season in the First Four of March Madness on March 19, securing an 86–80 victory after a dramatic comeback. However, Xavier’s tournament run was short-lived, as they fell 86–73 to No. 6 Illinois in the Round of 32 the following Friday. Less than a week after Texas’ loss, Terry’s exit was officially announced.
Speculation about Miller’s move to Texas began circulating on Sunday, sparked by a tweet from Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman. However, the University had yet to confirm the news. By Monday evening, the hire was officially announced.
“Sean Miller is a proven winner who will bring excellence to our men’s basketball program,” UT’s interim President Jim Davis stated. “He has the experience, leadership, and expertise to build a championship-caliber program with top-tier players both on and off the court.”
Over his 20-year coaching career, Miller has guided teams to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, achieving a 71% winning percentage. He began his head coaching career at Xavier in 2004, leading the Musketeers to two Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight before taking over at Arizona in 2009.
During his 12 years at Arizona, Miller led the Wildcats to seven NCAA Tournament berths, including five Sweet 16 appearances and three trips to the Elite Eight. He returned to Xavier in 2022, where the Musketeers secured two NCAA Tournament spots in the past three seasons.
“I’m so excited about the future of our men’s basketball program and thrilled to welcome another outstanding coach to our Longhorn Family,” said athletics director Chris Del Conte. “Sean Miller was at the top of our list when considering our next head coach. He checks all the boxes, aligns with our vision, and has a clear plan to elevate the program.”
Miller is also among the most successful coaches in terms of developing NBA talent, second only to Arkansas’ John Calipari over the past two decades. He has recruited or coached 27 players who later reached the NBA.
“Coach Miller is widely respected as an elite program builder and player developer,” Del Conte added. “His passion is contagious, he’s driven to win, and he’s an incredible person. … The future is bright, and I can’t wait to see him join our exceptional group of head coaches.”