Digger Phelps,
ESPN analyst
“I think this is a great move for Sean Miller. It’s time to move forward. My rule has always been you go to one job for seven to 10 years, move forward to the next level. . . .
“This guy will settle the program. He will recruit in California, and recruit around the country because his contacts are in the Midwest as well as the East Coast. Within two years, they will be competing for that Pac-10 title.”
(Miller has spent eight years at Xavier, the first three as associate head coach to Thad Matta.)
Pat Forde,
ESPN analyst
“I’d rather have Sean Miller than Tim Floyd. I think this worked out well in the end for Arizona after appearing to really bungle the thing several times.”
Paola Boivin,
Arizona Republic
“Mariano Rivera hasn’t had a save this good.
“Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood has some hiring chops after all. . . . This is a great coup for Livengood, whose persistence paid off. If he had not continued his pursuit of Miller, he’d be seeking out second-tier candidates today.
“And if he had not convinced boosters to help him up the ante to a deal that might surpass $2.5 million a year, he would be taking heat from fans.
In the end, the money was too good for Miller to pass up.
Miller is a terrific hire. Great coach. Great guy.
Nice recovery, Jim Livengood.
Kenny Frease,
Xavier freshman center
“(Miller) obviously thinks Arizona is a better situation for him. . . . It’s tough, it’s going to be a big blow, but we have to regroup.”
Dante Johnson,
Xavier player
“I just hurt for our team. Coach Miller was a good part of why I was here. No way to spin. I wish him the best of luck. I think he’ll do a terrific job out there.”
Robert Shelton,
UA president
“Sean Miller is a perfect fit for the University of Arizona. Sean has had tremendous achievements on the court, but he has also done an extraordinary job of ensuring that his players succeed in the classroom.
“Arizona fans are going to be very proud of the way he approaches the game. He is absolutely the right person to lead our program forward.”
Mike Bobinski,
Xavier athletic director
“I respect Sean’s decision. That doesn’t make me any less disappointed. . . .
“He has helped bring us to the point where we are poised to be the very best we’ve ever been in our history. We believe we are on the cusp of our greatest basketball ever.”
Sean Miller,
new UA coach
“I did my best to follow my heart.”
Staff and Internet Reports