Former Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball coach Sean Miller thanked his players, fans, the University of Arizona leadership and his family in a letter released a day after he was fired.

Miller called it an “honor” to serve as head coach for 12 seasons and said his tenure following his first head-coaching job at Xavier made Tucson his family’s home.

“Coaching in McKale Center on Game Day is one of the things I will miss the most,” he wrote in the letter released by the basketball team’s Twitter account.

“The pageantry and magic of the crowd and the pep band is unlike any arena I’ve been in. Wildcat fans are unique. They are passionate, loyal, knowledgeable and fair and that’s why they are the best fan base in college basketball.”

Miller said he admires and respects every player he coached at Arizona and “tried to bring out the best in everyone.”

“I hope they know that I did it with a lot of love … and some ‘tough love’ at times,” he added. “However, my intentions were always pure.”

Among the people Miller thanked were his wife, Amy, and his three sons: Austin, Cameron and Braden.

Miller thanked former athletic director Jim Livengood and former school president Dr. Robert Shelton, who led Arizona’s hiring process of Miller in 2009. The former coach also thanked current AD Dave Heeke and president Robert Robbins “for supporting our program though challenging times.”

Miller then wished Arizona luck in its coaching search and the future ahead.

“My hope is that they can capture that elusive fifth Final Four and second National Championship,” he said.

Here is the full letter:

“It was an honor to be the head basketball coach at the University of Arizona.”

A statement from Sean Miller: pic.twitter.com/sgWbDR35Oe

— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) April 8, 2021

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