ARIZONA BASKETBALL
Reactions pour in following Arizona’s firing of basketball coach Sean Miller
Arizona head coach Sean Miller reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. UCLA won 74-60. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Sean Miller era at Arizona has officially run its course.
Miller was fired Wednesday morning after a 12-year run with the program, the school announced. He had one year remaining on his contract.
The parting of ways comes after the university released the Notice of Allegations it received from the NCAA last fall, which included five Level I violations, on March 5. Four involve the men’s basketball program.
Miller leaves Arizona with a 302-109 (.735) record as the Wildcats head coach, a position he held since arriving to Tucson in 2009 after heading Xavier from 2004-09.
The former head coach’s departure led to many on social media providing their two cents on the matter, including Miller’s son and former players.
I wish Athletic Director Robbins luck in finding someone to fill those shoes
— Austin Miller (@austinmiller_3) April 7, 2021
I don’t like this
— Dušan Ristić (@ristic_dusan) April 7, 2021
“Mistakes have been made”
Current Arizona players react to UA parting ways with Sean Miller. pic.twitter.com/tqIa2JjaOI
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) April 7, 2021
Just leaving it out here.. One of the best coaches I've been coached by https://t.co/D5PgY2Ujav
— Kerr (@KerrKriisa) April 7, 2021
While some looked back on Miller’s accomplishments in Tucson, others were quick to look to the future of the Wildcats program with a head-coaching vacancy to now fill.
Bring home Luke Walton, @uarizona.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) April 7, 2021
👀 Former Arizona star Damon Stoudamire is ready @Iambiggie503 https://t.co/yVV8iqLOps
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) April 7, 2021
Sean Miller and Arizona parting ways…
Damon Stoudamire right now: pic.twitter.com/HtLpRg6Un5
— Al Jefferson Stan Account (@big_al_hoops) April 7, 2021
Some of the names connected to the Arizona vacancy are comical
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) April 7, 2021
One of these coaches got fired and the other got a lifetime contract. pic.twitter.com/ZhoOUkz0Ae
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 7, 2021
Ultimately, Sean Miller was fired because he didn't make a Final Four, not because of NCAA allegations.
Bill Self just got a lifetime contract at Kansas, and the only difference is banners hanging from the rafters.
— Matt Kiebus (@mjkiebus) April 7, 2021
Miller’s firing comes less than a month after his brother Archie Miller’s dismissal from Indiana following four seasons as the Hoosiers’ head coach.
Archie and Sean Miller at the next family dinner pic.twitter.com/D8xKPavUY0
— Pregame Empire (@PregameEmpire) April 7, 2021
The last Live Look of Sean Miller’s time at Arizona, end of an era @clubtrillion pic.twitter.com/F6fh09eACE
— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) April 7, 2021
Can't decide if Sean Miller is one of the best coaches in the country and I want my school to hire him, or if he's a huge failure because of what a lousy ROI Arizona got
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 7, 2021
Sean Miller stopped winning.
That’s the bottom line.
Arizona didn’t just now come to its senses about Miller’s NCAA violations. They just couldn’t extend a guy who hadn’t built an at-large team in three years, especially with the NCAA penalties coming. https://t.co/InKe1AgQ7N
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) April 7, 2021
