Xavier guard Dante Jackson (right) and two other Xavier students listen during Sean Miller's goodbye press conference on Monday on the Xavier campus. After rejecting the offer on Sunday, he changed his mind and is UA's new men's basketball coach.
CINCINNATI – What convinced Sean Miller to take the Arizona basketball coaching job after he reportedly said he would stay at Xavier?
Players said Arizona’s financial package helped sway their coach, but Miller said money wasn’t a factor.
“I tried to trust my gut,” Miller said.
Miller apparently told Fox Sports.com late Sunday that he would not take the UA job, but Miller said he and Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski were still talking about the Xavier job Monday morning in the coach’s kitchen. Miller added that he did not decide for sure to take the Arizona job until early afternoon.
CBS Sports.com, citing an unnamed source, reported that Livengood called Miller early Monday and “significantly changed” UA’s offer, which was initially around $2 million annually for a seven-year contract.
Miller also received assurances on schedules and the way the team would travel. UA travels commercial, but books charter flights for certain occasions, such as the NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo! Sports put the contract at $18 million for seven years, including a $1 million signing bonus. UA is expected to unveil the contract Tuesday.
“They offered him twice as much per year,” Xavier player BJ Raymond said. “I’m sad to see him go.”
Players gathered Monday afternoon before the press conference at Cintas Center.
“He obviously thinks Arizona is a better situation for him, and he’s going to try to justify that to us,” freshman Kenny Frease said then.
“It just sort of became real. You come to a program to play for Coach Miller. That’s why I came here. But after a year here at Xavier, it’s hard for me to think about leaving.”
Frease didn’t want to speculate on whether he’d transfer.
Dante Jackson said he got a call late last night at 12:30 a.m. saying Miller was staying. So he was surprised to hear the opposite today at 1:30 p.m.
“We came here to play for Coach Miller, but it is what it is,” Jackson said. “Anytime you lose a head coach it’s a big blow.”
Added Frease: “It’s tough, it’s going to be a big blow, but we have to regroup.”
Jordan Crawford left Cintas by himself without saying a word.
As for the next XU coach, C.J. Anderson says assistant Chris Mack is an option.
“I definitely think Xavier should take a look at Coach Mack,” Anderson said. “He knows the players, and it would be a comfortable transition.”
Said Miller: “I think the world of Chris Mack, but for me to comment on that isn’t the right thing to do.”
Last year Miller and Xavier agreed to a contract extension through the 2017-18 season. It was Miller’s third extension and the longest ever given to a Xavier head coach.
Miller, 40, has been the Xavier coach for five seasons and has taken the Musketeers into the NCAA Tournament four times, including this year’s Sweet 16 run.
He said Xavier’s basketball legacy will continue under the direction of a new coach.
“This machine will continue to move,” Miller said.
By Dustin Dow, Shannon Russell