Editor's note: This story first appeared Sunday as an exclusive for our print readers.
In his two seasons on Arizona's bench, and another (2006-07) as an ASU assistant, Archie Miller gained a revealing perspective on the UA's place in college basketball.
When asked Friday afternoon by Raleigh, N.C., sports-radio host David Glenn why Sean Miller didn't bite on the North Carolina State job, Archie, a former Wolfpack guard and assistant coach, wasn't elusive. He said:
"When you work at Arizona, you hold the keys to some of the best players who have played college basketball in the last 25 years. That's a powerful thing. You are consumed with making it the best it can be.
"It's almost like if you were coaching North Carolina State in that triangle without Duke and North Carolina around. You have a town of a million people and you are the only show in town with the support of a large fan base and a rabid crowd.
"They are competing for a national championship every year and recruiting at the highest level. Arizona is set up now for some of the most amazing runs that the program has ever seen. For whatever it's worth, Sean's at an amazing place."
Archie Miller will be 33 when he coaches his first basketball game at Dayton. He will start 1,211 victories behind the Atlantic 10 Conference's ranking threesome of Saint Louis' Rick Majerus, Temple's Fran Dunphy and St. Joe's Phil Martelli, all of whom are old enough to be his father.
That doesn't mean Archie is in over his head. It means he has a lot of wood to chop.
In demeanor, approach and background, Archie Miller is so much like his older brother that, if you close your eyes, it is difficult to tell the difference between the two men. His chances for success at Dayton are promising.
fleck dies at 58
Holthaus says aide vital to success of Pima teams
Bruce Fleck sat on the bench with Pima College coach Todd Holthaus for 84 of the Aztecs' 85 victories over the last three seasons, a period in which PCC (85-21) finished second, third and fifth in the NJCAA Division II finals.
"The only time he missed a game," Holthaus said, "was when his daughter got married last month."
Tragically, Fleck died in his sleep Thursday night. The retired teacher was only 58.
Fleck was an assistant coach at Pima as well as at Flowing Wells and Tucson high schools for two decades, including 12 years with Holthaus.
"I wouldn't be as successful without him," said Holthaus. "We are all going to miss the smiles he brought to all of us."
SHORT STUFF
Falcons send 10 to watch workout by Reed at UA
Friday morning on the UA football practice field, Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and nine others from the Falcons front office, coaching and scouting staff showed up to get a close look at UA All-Pac-10 pass rusher Brooks Reed. After filming Friday's workout, the Falcons arranged for Reed to fly to Atlanta today for further communication. That's how thorough NFL teams are in advance of the draft. Atlanta has the 27th overall pick in the NFL draft. … Reggie McGill, one of the top rushers in Arizona's "Back Attack" era of the late '80s, will return to Tucson April 23. McGill, who has made a living training athletes in Phoenix for 16 years, will hold a Spring Blitz Day Camp at Ironwood Ridge High School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Among the coaches assisting McGill will be former UA linebacker Chris Singleton, a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in 1990, and former NFL players such as Bryant Westbrook and Kevin Scott. Middle school and high school players are eligible to attend; cost $75, which includes lunch. Information: proskillsblitz.com. … Tucson High grad Sama Taku, who played basketball for Arizona 1988 Final Four guard Craig McMillan at Santa Rosa Junior College this season, was chosen first team All-Big 8 Conference in the California Community College Athletic Association last week. Taku helped the Bear Cubs finish 22-9 and reach the final eight of the state's JC playoffs. … UA volleyball coach Dave Rubio has made a definitive move to replace All-Pac-10 standout Tiffany Owens. Outside hitter Madison Kingdon, who graduated early from Phoenix Sunnyslope High School in December - she led the Vikings to three consecutive state titles - has already joined the UA program for spring competition. What's more, Kingdon successfully tried out for the USA Volleyball's A2 junior national team. She will play with the national team in Dallas in late May. How good is that? Last year's UA standout seniors, Paige Weber and Whitney Dosty, made the A2 team last year.
MORE SHORT STUFF
'Major gift' should let end zone project start
UA director of athletics Greg Byrne said he soon expects to announce the acquisition of "another major gift," a financial boost that should enable Arizona to begin construction of the $85 million North End Zone project at Arizona Stadium as soon as possible. The project should require one year to build, meaning that by kickoff 2013 the UA's football plant will rank with any in the Pac-12, and that Arizona Stadium, which will be transformed this season by a massive $5 million video scoreboard, will have the look and feel of a big-league venue. … Byrne also expects to hire a swimming coach to replace Frank Busch this week. It's likely Byrne could have hired 12-time NCAA-championship coach Dave Marsh, formerly of Auburn, but he won't do so. Hiring Marsh would require the UA to break its salary structure for nonrevenue head coaches. If you pay someone like Marsh $300,000 annually, what would you tell national championship coaches like Mike Candrea and Andy Lopez, who aren't paid half that amount? … Bill Baker, a former UA lineman who spent 14 years as an NFL scout and later four years as Mike Stoops' assistant director of football operations, is raising scholarship money for high school athletes who are injured. The second Coaches for Charity golf tournament will be held April 22 at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon at 1 p.m. Information: coachesforcharity.org. … Ex-UA forward Marcus Williams completed his pro basketball season by averaging 29.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists for China's Zhejiang Cyclones. Williams had games in which he twice scored 53 points. And he still can't get a nibble by the NBA.
McCoy might be next big-leaguer from here
With ex-Tucson High pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen now a part of the Seattle Mariners, he became the 40th high school player from the greater Tucson area to reach the big leagues. No. 41 could be Sahuaro grad Patrick McCoy, a pitcher who opened the season at Class AA Harrisburg, Pa., an affiliate of the Washington Nationals. … Ex-Sabino pitcher Tim Wood, who spent much of the 2009 and 2010 seasons on the Florida Marlins staff, is now pitching for Class AAA Indianapolis, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. … Sahuarita softball coach Chris Fanning won his 400th career game last week, all for the Mustangs. Sahuarita is 19-4. … Amphitheater Hall of Fame football coach Vern Friedli handled with aplomb his first public appearance since suffering a stroke in January. Friedli was honored at last week's National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame banquet, giving a brief speech and walking up a set of stairs to reach the stage. He is still working with a speech rehab specialist but expects to coach the Panthers in the fall.
MY TWO CENTS
Don't expect big-name hire to join Miller's coaching staff at UA
Sean Miller isn't likely to hire a celebrity assistant coach the way Arizona did with Miles Simon, whose tenure on the UA bench was rocky and unpleasant.
It doesn't mean Damon Stoudamire won't be hired, but my guess is that Stoudamire, who earned $99.6 million in his NBA career, might not be interested in those 80-hour weeks that are requisite to be part of Miller's staff.
It's like Archie Miller said last week when asked what his favorite movie is: "You don't really go to movies with a job like I've had."
These jobs are more suited to James Whitford, who is now Arizona's top assistant basketball coach. Whitford began as a student manager at Miami (Ohio) and slowly worked his way into a six-figure coaching job.
"I had $50,000 of student loans," said Whitford, whose father was a professor at Stanford. "I ran summer camps. I ran errands. I learned the entire business from the ground up."
This is a critical hire for Arizona. One thing that helped Lute Olson be so successful was that he continued to hit home runs with his assistant coaches: Ricky Byrdsong, Scott Thompson, Ken Burmeister, Jim Rosborough, Jessie Evans and Jay John.
Miller said he will not hire a specialist but rather will be "comprehensive." He is looking for someone who can assist in game-planning, game-management, recruiting, practice and player relationships.
Much like the boss, if you coach at Arizona, you are a grinder.
