Miller mania at UA

“It’s Miller Time! Welcome New Coach Sean Miller”

That’s what the banner said above the entrance to Sam Hughes Place last week as I was driving down Sixth Street, 25 hours after it was announced Miller would become the new University of Arizona basketball coach.

I was on my way to the press conference to introduce the new coach.

Lute Olson was there with his daughter. So was Steve Kerr, George Kalil, Jim Click, most members of this year’s team, including NBA-bound Chase Buddinger and Jordan Hill, 100 members of the Zona Zoo and several thousand fans in the stands.

Athletic Director Jim Livengood said Miller has signed a five-year contract for $2 million a year, as the Board of Regents does not allow longer contracts. Livengood went to great lengths to state the athletic department supports itself financially.

Miller said, “Every person who gets a scholarship will have to be a person that can compete for Pac-10 championships and NCAA tournament play.”

One of his assistants at the Xavier Musketeers, where he coached for five seasons, has applied for the head (assistant’s) job and until this matter has been resolved, Miller will not be looking for assistant coaches.

He plans to meet individually with each member of last season’s team and said he is holding practices to teach the team his style of play.

We must be patient. It will take time to rebuild the program.

Bernie Wilson

Tucson