Sean Miller exits Tucson with one remarkable statistic: He is almost certainly the highest-paid state employee in Arizona history. He was paid more than $30 million to coach Arizonaโs basketball team for 12 seasons.
No university president, no university-employed surgeon, no governor in this state has ever been compensated with such an accumulation of wealth.
Miller reigned like a king. Untouchable, disconnected, as if he built a moat around McKale Center. He flew in private jets. Limited his relationships to the schoolโs mega-donors. Public appearances? Few and very far between. An introvert of the highest level, Millerโs self-imposed prison was walking through the world all alone.
As the Eagles sing, โYou better let somebody love you before itโs too late.โ UA fans loved their basketball program more than Miller loved them back.
Arizona parted ways with head coach Sean Miller on Wednesday after 12 seasons. Miller, who led the program to three Elite Eight appearances and five Pac-12 championships, won 302 games at Arizona. UA athletic director Dave Heeke held a virtual press conference Wednesday to explain the decision and what's next for the Wildcats.
If Miller enjoyed his time at Arizona, it rarely showed. Dour. Grumpy. Quick to anger. In a 2016 home game against Oregon, a TV microphone captured audio of Miller calling center Kaleb Tarczewski a vile name.
Two nights later, after a win over Oregon State, I asked Miller if he regretted humiliating Tarczewski. It was an if-looks-could-kill moment
โI donโt care what itโs perceived like,โ he said. He later added: โThis type of environment isnโt for everybody.โ
Miller was at the height of his power in 2016. Neither the athletic director nor university president directed him to apologize for his behavior. His teams were coming off 33-5 and 34-4 seasons with a 49-1 McKale Center streak.
He was invulnerable.
Miller didnโt bully the way Bob Knight and Woody Hayes did in an earlier era of college sports, but his tough love seemed out of place in a town that worshiped its basketball history.
And then it all changed. The Wildcats were bounced out of the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons by Wichita State, Xavier and Buffalo.
FBI agents showed up at Millerโs front door in the fall of 2017. The NCAA later charged the basketball program with five Level I violations.
Ultimately, it was no longer politically expedient for UA President Robert C. Robbins to support a coach who had lost his magic and placed the schoolโs integrity in question. Even phone calls to Robbins earlier this week from three of Arizonaโs influential NBA figures werenโt enough to save Millerโs job.
Arizonaโs basketball program had become so much less because it had once been so much more.
University of Arizona President Robert Robbins speaks during a press conference after an Arizona Board of Regents executive session regarding Arizonaโs menโs basketball team and head coach Sean Miller on Thursday, Mar. 1, 2018 in Phoenix.
โWe must always act in the best interests of the university,โ Robbins said Wednesday in a statement released by the university.
I think two things likely happened to force Robbinsโ tardy decision:
1. The Arizona Board of Regents signaled it would not approve a contract extension, meaning the UA basketball program was stuck in neutral. Itโs fully likely that the Independent Accountability Resolution Process will not make a final ruling on the schoolโs NCAA case until the summer of 2022. Waiting until then to restart Arizonaโs basketball program could mean spending extended time in the Pac-12 basement alongside Cal and Washington.
2. Robbins was emboldened by the early success of new football coach Jedd Fisch, leading him to believe he could similarly find a winning replacement for Miller. The hitch in that theory is that the school couldโve replaced Miller five weeks ago and avoided getting beat during the hiring season by Texas, Indiana, Utah and Oklahoma.
Or maybe watching the positive energy and connectivity of Adia Barnes coaching Arizonaโs womenโs basketball team to the national championship game drove this move as much as anything. Why canโt we all love one another again?
As athletic director Dave Heeke said in Wednesdayโs Zoom conference: โIt was time to give it a fresh start.โ
Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke said Wednesday that he is hiring a search firm to find a winning replacement for coach Sean Miller.
Heeke said Wednesday that he is hiring a search firm, a declaration that the UA didnโt have a plan all this time. Robbins apparently waffled after saying โSean is our coachโ a month ago. Arizona has had 3ยฝ years to pinpoint a replacement for Miller, whether it would need to implement that plan or not. Do you think Duke would hire a search firm to replace Mike Krzyzewski?
Former UA athletic director Cedric Dempsey hired Lute Olson, a Final Four coach, in two days.
Then there are the finances.
At the highest levels of college basketball, a head coach is paid about $3.5 million per year, on average. If the UAโs top donors โ who are Miller allies โ wonโt commit money to this overhaul, itโll be extremely difficult for the Wildcats to afford an upper-tier coach.
Given the accumulated athletic department debt from the $7.5 million buyout of Kevin Sumlin, it seems unlikely Arizona could throw around enough money to simply buy a proven coach out of a comfortable setting.
Remember, Arizona had to pay Miller a $1 million bonus to get him away from Xavier.
Now itโs giving him $1.42 million to go away.
Timeline: Sean Miller's career as the Arizona Wildcats' head coach
April 6, 2009: Sean Miller leaves Xavier to accept job at Arizona
Updated
Arizona head coach Sean Miller at introductory press conference in 2009.ย
The UA announces that it has hired Miller, the former coach at Xavier, after the two sides met in Albuquerque the day before.
Miller takes over the program after long-time head coach Lute Olson retired after 25 years at the helm.
2009: Miller lands impressive recruiting class
Updated
The first batch of recruits Miller hauls into Tucson set the tone for his tenure at the UA.ย
Miller's first commit comes from Ukranian big man Kyryl Natyazhko. He was then followed by Kevin Parrom, Solomon Hill and Max Wiepking. The last two recruits of the class were former USC commits, point guard Lamont "Momo" Jones and power forward Derrick Williams.ย
Miller's last-minute 2009 class was ranked No. 2 the Pac-12, per 247Sports.com.
Nov. 15, 2009: Miller wins first game at UA
Updated
In his first year as Arizona head coach, Sean Miller wasted no time coaching up his squad in a season-opening win over Northern Arizona at McKale Center on Nov. 15, 2009. Solomon Hill scored 17 points to lead the Cats, and Jamelle Horne grabbed 11 rebounds.ย
Junior power forward Jamelle Horne records a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while the backcourt in Kyle Fogg and Nic Wise combines for 25 points as the Wildcats top NAU 87-70 in McKale Center. The win is Miller's first at Arizona.ย
March 5, 2011: Miller wins first Pac-12 title
Updated
The Wildcats defeat Oregon 90-82 to clinch the Pac-12 regular season title, the first under Miller and the UA's first since 2005.ย
2011: Wildcats make Elite Eight
Updated
Derrick Williams celebrates a dunk that helped keep Arizona close in its 2011 Elite Eight loss to Connecticut.
After winning Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Miller leads the Wildcats back to the big dance in 2011 after the Wildcats missed the tournament for the first time in 25 years.
The Cats beat Texas in Round of 32 and take down No. 1 Duke in the Sweet 16. In the Elite Eight, the Wildcats fall short after running into National Player of the Year finalist Kemba Walker and the UConn Huskies.ย
2012: Cats miss tourney, play in NIT
Updated
Arizona guard Josiah Turner (11) picks up a foul as he drives between two Colorado defenders in the first half at the Coors Events Center, Sat. Jan. 21, 2012, Boulder, Colo. Kelly Presnell/ARIZONA DAILY STAR
The Wildcats finish third in the Pac-12 and post a 23-12 record, capped off with a 65-54 loss to Bucknell in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament.
March 15, 2013: "He touched the ball"
UpdatedNo. 18 Arizona loses to UCLA 66-64. In the game, UCLA's Jordan Adams strips a driving Mark Lyons, but Lyons maintains possession of the ball in which he tried to pass it to a Wildcat on the perimeter. The official calls Lyons for double-dribble.
Miller tells the official "he touched the ball," saying it's a bad call.
Miller is called for a technical foul and the Wildcats go on to lose in the Pac-12 Tournament. Miller shows his emotions in the postgame press conference.
Nov. 18, 2013: Miller earns 100th win
Updated
Arizona's Aaron Gordon (11) and Brandon Ashley (21) runs down the court against Fairleigh Dickinson in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2013 in Tucson, Ariz. This is in the first round of the NIT.
The Wildcats score 100 points and beat Fairleigh Dickinson by 50 points, giving Miller his 100th win as Arizona's head coach.ย
โIt feels good,โ Miller says about the career milestone. โBetter to celebrate that than not be at that number. Hopefully thereโs many more this year and beyond.โย
March 2, 2014: Arizona wins the Pac-12 regular-season championship
Updated
University of Arizona head coach Sean Miller cuts down the net after his Wildcats clinched the Pac-12 regular season championship with a 79-66 win against Stanford at McKale Center, Sunday, March 2, 2014, Tucson, Ariz. Photo by Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
On senior night, the Wildcats beat Stanford 79-66 to win the Pac-12 regular season championship, Miller's second title at Arizona. Miller then wins another conference coach of the year accolade.ย
March 29, 2014: Arizona loses to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight
Updated
Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller is in disbelief over a call by a referee in the second half at the NCAA West Regionals in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, March 29, 2014. Wisconsin won in overtime 64-63.
With Brandon Ashley out for the year with a broken foot, Arizona struggles to defend Wisconsin star Frank Kaminsky in the post. Kaminsky scores 28 points and grabs 11 rebounds and the Badgers topple the Cats in overtime.ย
Nick Johnson has a chance to win the game on the final possession, but doesn't the get shot off in time and the Cats fall in the Elite Eight.
March 14, 2015: Miller clinches first ever Pac-12 Tournament title
Updated
Arizona head coach Sean Miller waves the remains of the net at the fans as the Wildcats celebrate a win against Oregon in the championship game of the Pac-12 Tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2015, Las Vegas, Nev. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona routs Oregon 80-52 in the Pac-12 title game, giving Miller his first-ever Pac-12 Tournament title.
March 28, 2015: Arizona loses to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight ... again
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard T.J. McConnell (4) is embraced by Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller after coming off the court in the second half during the NCAA West Regional Championship game on Saturday March 28, 2015 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Wisconsin won 85-78.
Arizona gets a rematch with the top-seeded Badgers, and while Frank "The Tank" Kaminsky isn't as a big of a factor on the boards as in 2014, he still manages to score 29 points. Except this time, Sam Dekker was there to back Kaminsky up.ย
Dekker drops 27 points on 5 of 6 shooting from 3-point range and for the second straight season, the Badgers are in the Final Four, not Arizona. T.J. McConnell, Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Brandon Ashley would leave for the NBA Draft afterwards.
March 4, 2017: Arizona beats ASU, shares Pac-12 regular season title with Oregon
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) and Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) celebrate the win after the No. 7 Arizona Wildcats vs. Arizona State Sun Devils men's college basketball game on March 4, 2017, in Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona won 73-60. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona beats Arizona 73-60 in Tempe and sweeps the Sun Devils for the second straight season, clinching a share of the Pac-12 regular season championship with Oregon.ย
March 11, 2017: Cats beat Oregon in showdown of co-champs
Updated
Arizona coach Sean Miller holds up the trophy after Arizona defeated Oregon 83-80 in an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Pac-12 men's tournament Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The Wildcats outlast Oregon 83-80 in the Pac-12 Tournament final behind Allonzo Trier's 23-point performance; the junior guard is named the Pac-12 Tournament's Most Valuable Player.
March 23, 2017: Miller falls to former team in NCAA Tournament
Updated
Wildcats Allonzo Trier and Lauri Markkanen absorb last seasonโs Sweet 16 loss to Xavier. Arizona lost 73-71 after winning the Pac-12 and entering the tournament as a No.3 seed.
In the Sweet 16, the Wildcats run into his former team, Xavier. Arizona struggles in the second half, and freshman Lauri Markkanen doesn't have a shot attempt in the final 11 minutes, and the Musketeers upset Arizona 73-71.ย
Summer 2017: Miller brings in monstrous recruiting class
Updated
Hillcrest Prep junior DeAndre Ayton, a 7-foot-1 basketball player, is rated the No.1 player in the country. Pictured here at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, AZ on February 1, 2016.
Arizona returns Allonzo Trier, Rawle Alkins, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Dusan Ristic and Keanu Pinder for the 2018 season, all players that had significant roles on the 2017 Sweet 16 team.
Miller adds to that a recruiting class that inclues Ira Lee, Brandon Randolph, Alex Barcello, reclassified five-star 2018 prospect Emmanuel Akot โ and No. 1 overall recruit Deandre Ayton, the 7-foot-1 Bahamian prodigy who played at Phoenix's Hillcrest Prep.
Sept. 27, 2017: Assistant coach arrested following FBI raid
UpdatedArizona assistant coach Emanuel "Book" Richardson is arrested by the FBI on allegations of bribery after he allegedly asked for $20,000 from co-defendants Christian Dawkins and Munish Sood, and released after posting a $50,000 bond. Richardson faces up to 60 years in federal prison and $1.5 million in fines if convicted of all charges.
Oct. 3, 2017: Miller releases statement amid FBI investigation
Updated
Dusan Ristic, left, and Allonzo Trier, right, look towards Sean Miller, head coach for the Arizona Wildcats, as he answers a question during a press conference at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on October 05, 2017.
After nearly a week of silence, Miller releases a statement saying he's "devastated" over the allegations against Richardson.
Here's the full statement:
โI was devastated to learn last week of the allegations made against Emanuel Richardson," he said. I have expressed to both Dr. Robbins and our Athletic Director Dave Heeke that I fully support the universityโs efforts to fully investigate these allegations.
"As the head basketball coach at the University of Arizona, I recognize my responsibility is not only to establish a culture of success on the basketball court and in the classroom, but as important, to promote and reinforce a culture of compliance. To the best of my ability, I have worked to demonstrate this over the past 8 years and will continue to do so as we move forward.โ
Feb. 23, 2018: ESPN reports FBI wiretapped recordings of Miller discussing payment
Updated
Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller gives Arizona Wildcats forward Deandre Ayton (13) a defensive critique during the second half.
On the eve of Arizona taking on Oregon in Eugene, ESPN's Mark Schlabach reports that the FBI has a wiretapped phone conversation between Miller and ASM Sports agency runner Christian Dawkins in which the two allegedly discuss a $100,000 payment to Ayton.
As a result, Miller doesn't coach the Wildcats in their overtime loss against Oregon.
March 1, 2018: Miller denies ESPN report, says he is returning
Updated
Miller denies the ESPN report and announces that he plans to coach the team to a Pac-12 championship.
"I have never knowingly violated NCAA rules while serving as head coach of this great program," Miller said. "I have never paid a recruit or prospect or their family or representative to come to Arizona. I never have and I never will. I have never arranged or directed payment or any improper benefits to a recruit or prospect or their family or representative and I never will."
UA president Robert Robbins and AD Dave Heeke back Miller, releasing a joint statement saying they have no reason to believe he violated NCAA rules at the time.
Sean Miller on the ESPN story of wiretap recordings of him discussing a $100K payment to land Deandre Ayton: โAny report to the contrary is inaccurate, false and defamatory. Iโm outraged by the media statements.โ pic.twitter.com/tfqCzJZ8FF
โ The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 1, 2018
March 10, 2018: Wildcats roar through Pac-12; Miller wins another title
Updated
Arizona coach Sean Miller waves the net after the team's NCAA college basketball game against Southern California for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. Arizona won 75-61.
After clinching the Pac-12 regular-season title in Miller's return from the ESPN fallout, Arizona wins three games in as many days in Las Vegas to win its second straight tournament championship and third in four years.
March 15, 2018: No. 13 seed Buffalo knocks out Arizona in first round
Updated
Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller shows signs of frustration as his team walks back to the bench for a timeout in the second half during the first round NCAA South Region game at the Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho on March 15, 2018. Buffalo won 89-68.
Buffalo blasts No. 4 seed Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Boise, Idaho. The 21-point loss is the fourth-worst loss the program has suffered in tournament history, and a Miller-coached team is sent home after the first round for a second time in three seasons.
April 6, 2018: AD supports Miller after state regents add $1M penalty clause to contract
Updated
Arizona head coach Sean Miller huddles with his Wildcats during a time out in the second half against Baylor at McKale Center, Saturday, December 15, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
The Arizona Board of Regents approves amendments to Miller's contract that adds a $1 million penalty for wrongdoing and tighter Title IX language.
Miller stands to lose $1 million of his longevity fund shares if he is charged with a crime or found to have committed a Level I (major) NCAA violation.
Sept. 14, 2018: Five-star guard Nico Mannion commits to Arizona
Updated
University of Arizona basketball commits Josh Green, right, and Nico Mannion, center, will play for the World Team at the Nike Hoop Summit game in Portland on Friday. Green will represent Australia, and Mannion will represent Italy.
Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year Nico Mannion commits to Arizona in September 2018, becoming the first recruit of the 2019-20 recruiting class. Mannion, a five-star guard out of Pinnacle High School (Phoenix), is the building block of the nation's sixth-ranked recruiting class.
It marks Miller's eighth recruiting class that ranked top 10 nationally.ย
The Wildcats also sign five-star guard Josh Green, four-star forward Zeke Nnaji and three-star center Christian Koloko in the class.
Jan. 26, 2019: Wildcats blown out by USC, UCLA as Pac-12 struggles define season
Updated
Arizona guard Brandon Williams (2) ends up swiping the ball from UCLA guard Jaylen Hands (4) near the top of the key in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Pauley Pavilion, Saturday, January 26, 2019, Los Angeles, Calif.
After losing much of the 2018-19 recruiting class to de-commitments, Miller rebuilds Arizona's roster on the fly. The 2018-19 Wildcats are led by Brandon Williams, who recommits to UA after previously backing out of his original verbal commit.ย
Arizona starts out the season 14-5 and in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth. But the team sputters at the end of January, losing back-to-back games to USC and UCLA.
The Cats then drop four more consecutive games, marking the first time in 35 years the program lost five or more in a row. They finish the season 17-15 and 8-10 in the Pac-12, the first time in Miller's career the team did not go over .500 in conference play.
Feb. 9, 2019: AD affirms his support for Miller after assistant coach Mark Phelps' removal
Updated
Arizona Wildcats athletic director Dave Heeke addresses the media at halftime of the UA-WSU game at McKale Center on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, concerning the school's move to fire assistant Mark Phelps and its support of Sean Miller.
Arizona Wildcats assistant coach Mark Phelps is removed from the bench after ESPN reportedย that Phelps was involved in an NCAA issue regarding the academic records of former UA commit Shareef OโNeal.
UA athletic director Dave Heeke calls anย impromptu press conference duringย halftime of Arizona's home basketball game against Washington State to affirm he plans to keep Miller as the team's head coach.ย
โWeโre fully supportive of the coaching staff, the leadership of the basketball program,โ Heeke said. โWeโre supporting, as I have said before, we support Coach Miller. Those things that have been said to the contrary to that are not true.โ
Rather than fire him, the UA allows Phelps' contract to run out.
April 19, 2019: Judge rules that Miller does not have to testify in college basketball trial
Updated
Christian Dawkins stands outside federal court Wednesday, May 8, 2019, in New York. Dawkins and youth basketball coach Merl Code were convicted on a conspiracy count, but acquitted of some other charges.
New York judge Edgardo Ramos rules that the Arizona Wildcatsโ coach and LSU coach Will Wade do not have to testify in the federal trial involving corruption in college basketball, saying their alleged misdeeds are irrelevant to the felony bribery charges facing would-be agent Christian Dawkins and Adidas rep Merl Code.ย
May 4, 2019: Arizona confirms NCAA investigation into men's basketball program 'is underway'
Updated
UA said it was bracing for substantial penalties from the NCAA for the actions of Book Richardson, right. The school confirmed in May that an NCAA investigation was underway.
The University of Arizona menโs basketball program confirms it is being investigated by the NCAA. UA issues a statement refuting other reports published that might have implied the investigation was new.
Fall 2019: Arizona in top 25 to begin 2019-20 season
Updated
Guard Jemarl Baker Jr. , right, wasnโt cleared to play for UA this year until Thursday. Although he was a bit rusty in Fridayโs exhibition, coach Sean Miller has big plans for him.
In the AP preseason poll, the Wildcats are ranked 21st in the country, marking the first time since 2018 that the team has been nationally ranked.
UA is also picked to finished fourth in the Pac-12 preseason poll.
A week before the season opener, Kentucky transfer Jemarl Baker is granted immediate eligibility for the 2019-20 season, boosting UA's outlook for the season to go along with a top 10 recruiting class.
Baker, a 6-foot-4-inch guard from Southern California, initially was expected to sit out the season He decided to appeal based on injuries and other issues in Lexington.ย
The addition of Baker helps Arizona fill in its depth issues after sophomore guard Brandon Williams was lost for the season due to a knee injury before the start of the year.
Nov. 10, 2019: Freshmen star in blowout win over Ilinois
Updated
During a fast break, Arizona Wildcats guard Josh Green (0) shoots the ball during the first half of the Arizona Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini at McKale Center on November 10th, 2019.
Freshmenย Nico Mannion,ย Josh Greenย and forwardย Zeke Nnajiย combine for 62 of Arizona's 90 points in a 21-point home win overย Illinois.ย
Their performance leads Miller to believe it's possibly his best class at Arizona.
"Itโs certainly one of the best, if not the best," he said.
Dec. 15, 2019: Miller bemoans team's shooting following loss to Gonzaga
Updated
Arizonaโs game against Gonzaga this season is the only one on the schedule that doesnโt have a force majeure clause, because the contract was written back in 2015.
No. 15 Arizona makes just 8 of 30 3-pointers and shoots under 40% as a team in an 84-80 loss to No. 6 Gonzaga in McKale Center.
Miller holds a 17-minute press conference after the game detailing why Arizona was unable to win.
March 12, 2020: NCAA basketball season cut short due to pandemic
Updated
With Nico Mannion and others expected to enter the draft, Sean Miller will have work to do to compile his 2020-21 team.
The Wildcats post a 21-11 regular-season mark, peaking in March.
In the first round of Pac-12 tournament on March 11, the Cats beat Washington 77-70 behind Josh Green's 19 points to set up a match with USC in the quarterfinals.ย
Miller calls it "one of our seasonโs best performances."
A day later, the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments are canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.ย 12, the coronavirus is declared a pandemic in the United States and both the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments were canceled, effectively ending Arizona's season.
At the time, UA hovered between a 6 or 7 seed.
Oct. 25, 2020: Arizona, Miller receive NCAA's Notice of Allegations
Updated
Arizona head coach Sean Miller calls in his defensive alignment against Oregon in the first half of their Pac12 game at McKale Center, February 22, 2020 Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona is charged with nine rules violations in the NCAA's Notice of Allegations, five of which are Level 1 violations.
Miller is charged with a Level 1 violation for a lack of head coach control and failing to monitorย two assistant coaches accused of academic misconduct and improper recruiting inducements. The NOA is not released to the public until the following March.
Dec. 29, 2020: Arizona self-imposes postseason ban for 2021 Pac-12, NCAA tournaments
Updated
Arizona coach Sean Miller may have done just enough to get Arizona in as one of the final at-large teams in the NCAA Tournament had the Wildcats not instituted a self-imposed postseason ban.
Acknowledging that NCAA investigators found some former Arizona men's basketball staffers displayed "serious lapses in judgment," the school announcesย that it has self-imposed a ban on the upcoming postseason
โI understand and fully support the universityโs decision to self-impose a one-year postseason ban on our menโs basketball program," Miller says in a statement. "Our team will remain united and aggressively compete to win a Pac-12 championship.โ
Feb. 18 2021: Wildcats lose to UCLA for fifth straight time
Updated
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) looks to pass the ball while defended by Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Arizona is outscored 44-29 in the second half by UCLA at Pauley Pavilion as the Wildcats drop their fifth game in a row to the Bruins.
March 1, 2021: Arizona ends 2020-21 season with loss to Ducks
Updated
Sean Miller is the new head coach at Xavier, according to reports.
In Arizona's season finale, the Wildcats lose 80-69 on the road to Oregon.
UA finishes the yearย 17-9 overall and 11-9 in Pac-12 play.
After the game, Miller said he was pleased with the team's overall finish despite not having postseason incentives to play for.
"Iโll just share with you what I said to our team after the game: This is the 17th team that Iโve had as a head coach, and Iโve never been prouder of a group of guys than I am of this yearโs team," Miller said.
March 8, 2021: Arizona president Robert C. Robbins says Miller 'is our coach'
Updated
UA athletic director Dave Heeke and president Robert C. Robbins (center of third row from bottom) blend in with cardboard cutouts of former players during a men's basketball game against Cal State Bakersfield in December.
A week after Arizona's season ends, UA presidentย Robert C. Robbins says he expects Miller back for the 2021-2022 season.ย
"Heโs out there recruiting," Robbins says of Miller. "I think signing day is coming up soon. Weโve got a really good team. Theyโre young, but good. And weโre eager to move forward and get the final chapter of this now-almost four-year saga over. But Coach Miller is our coach."
April 7, 2021: Arizona, Miller part ways
UpdatedThe University of Arizona announces it is parting ways with Miller after 12 years.ย
President Robbins and athletic director Dave Heeke met with Miller this week and informed him of the decision.
"We feel like it's the appropriate time to make a change," Heeke said. "So that we can restore and begin to rebuild the overall high-caliber status of this world-class basketball program."
Miller ends his coaching career at Arizona with aย 302-109 record (.735), threeย Pac-12 Tournament championships, five conference championships and no Final Four appearances.ย
