Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Sean Miller

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Sean Miller made an impact.

Sean Miller is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head coach at the University of Texas at Austin. Before Texas, Miller coached at Xavier University, twice, from 2004 to 2009 and 2022 to 2024, and at the University of Arizona from 2009 to 2021.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1987: Played at Pitt

From 1987 to 1992, Sean Miller played basketball at the University of Pittsburgh, starting as point guard his freshman year.

1992: Played at Pitt

From 1987 to 1992, Sean Miller played basketball at the University of Pittsburgh, starting as point guard his freshman year.

1992: Graduate Assistant Position at Wisconsin

In 1992, after graduating from Pitt with a degree in communications, Sean Miller took a graduate assistant position at Wisconsin.

1993: Assistant at Miami (Ohio)

In 1993, Sean Miller spent two seasons at Miami (Ohio) under Herb Sendek.

1996: Joined Sendek at North Carolina State

In 1996, Sean Miller rejoined Herb Sendek at North Carolina State as an assistant coach.

2001: Joined Xavier as Associate Head Coach

In 2001, Sean Miller joined Thad Matta's staff at Xavier as the first associate head coach in the school's history.

2002: First Pac-12 Tournament Title Since 2002

In 2015, the Arizona Wildcats won their first Pac-12 Tournament title since 2002 under Sean Miller's leadership.

2004: Head Coach at Xavier

In 2004, Sean Miller became head coach at Xavier University, a position he held until 2009, and then again from 2022 to 2025.

2004: Elite Eight Appearance

In 2004, Xavier won the Atlantic 10 postseason tournament and made a deep run in the NCAA tournament, finishing with the school's first-ever appearance in the Elite Eight.

2005: Elite Eight Appearance

In 2010, Sean Miller improved the recruiting class at Arizona, guiding the Cats to their first Elite Eight appearance since the 2004-05 season.

2008: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight

In the 2008 NCAA tournament, Sean Miller's 3rd seeded Xavier team was eliminated in the Elite Eight by #1 seed UCLA.

April 6, 2009: Accepted Head Coaching Position at Arizona

On April 6, 2009, Sean Miller accepted the head coaching position at the University of Arizona.

2009: Became Head Coach at Arizona

In 2009, Sean Miller became the head coach at the University of Arizona, a position he held until 2021. Also in 2009, Miller's tenure as head coach at Xavier ended.

2009: NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen

In 2009, Sean Miller's Xavier team was eliminated in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament by Pittsburgh.

2009: Last Coached at Xavier

On March 19, 2022, Sean Miller was hired by Xavier after having last coached at the school in 2009.

2010: Improved Recruiting Class

In 2010, Sean Miller improved the recruiting class at Arizona, guiding the Cats to their first Elite Eight appearance since the 2004-05 season.

2011: Ranked Recruiting Class

In 2011, Arizona's recruiting class was ranked seventh, securing three players in the top nine of the ESPNU 100. This cemented Arizona as the No. 1 signing class nationally.

December 9, 2013: Top-Ranked Team in the Country

On December 9, 2013, Sean Miller's Arizona Wildcats became the top-ranked team in the country for the sixth time in school history.

2013: Sweet Sixteen Appearance

In 2013, Sean Miller guided the Arizona Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.

2015: Coached USA Under-19 Team

In 2015, Sean Miller served as the head coach of the USA men's Under-19 junior national team, which won a gold medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

2016: Signed Extension with Arizona

During the 2016-17 season, Sean Miller signed an extension with Arizona through the 2022 season.

2017: Ended Run as USA U-19 Coach

In 2017, Sean Miller was replaced by John Calipari as head coach of the USA men's Under-19 team.

April 7, 2021: Fired by Arizona

On April 7, 2021, Sean Miller was fired by the University of Arizona after 12 seasons as head coach.

2021: Left Arizona

In 2021, Sean Miller's tenure as head coach at the University of Arizona concluded.

March 19, 2022: Hired by Xavier

On March 19, 2022, Sean Miller was hired by Xavier after having last coached at the school in 2009.

2022: Signed Extension with Arizona

During the 2016-17 season, Sean Miller signed an extension with Arizona through the 2022 season.

2022: Return to Xavier

In 2022, Sean Miller returned to Xavier University as head coach.

2023: Sweet 16 Appearance

In the 2022-23 season, Sean Miller led Xavier to a 27-10 record and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

2024: NCAA Tournament Appearance

After finishing with a losing record after experiencing two season ending injuries in the summer before the 2023-24 season, Sean Miller led Xavier back to the NCAA Tournament in the 2024-25 season.