Miller accepts Arizona job

Apr 7, 2009 - 12:00 AM TUCSON, Arizona (Ticker) -- Sean Miller has moved on to the big time.

Miller has accepted to take over the high-profile job at Arizona, athletic director Jim Livengood announced Monday.

Miller will be officially announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Leaving Xavier after five stellar seasons, Miller succeeds Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson, who retired last fall. Russ Pennell served as the interim coach this season, guiding the Wildcats to a 21-14 record and extending the school's streak of consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament to 25.

During his tenure with the Musketeers, the 40-year-old Miller built on the school's reputation as one of the top mid-major powers in the country, guiding it to four straight appearances in the NCAAs, including a regional final in 2008.

"It's been an exhaustive week, but it's a good day to be a Wildcat," Livengood said. "We believe we've brought in the best young coach in the country, a proven winner who will take this program into the future."

This season, Xavier went 27-8 for its fourth straight 20-win campaign and a third consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season title. The Musketeers had their season end with a semifinal loss to top seed Pittsburgh in the East Regional.

Miller finished with a 120-47 record at Xavier, including a 6-4 mark in the NCAA Tournament with two trips to the Sweet 16.

A former standout point guard at Pittsburgh, Miller spent 11 years as an assistant, most notably at North Carolina State from 1996-2001, before being promoted as the head coach at Xavier in 2004.