GREENSBORO, N.C. — For Pitt fans, Sunday’s opponent in the NCAA Tournament will be led by a very familiar coach: Sean Miller.
Miller, a four-year standout at Pitt from 1987-82, is in the midst of his first season (second stint) as the head coach of the No. 3 seeded Xavier Musketeers, who defeated Kennesaw State on Friday to advance to play Pitt.
The Musketeers’ head coach, who is originally from Beaver County, PA, played at Blackhawk high school before starring alongside some of the biggest names in Pittsburgh hoops history in Oakland. Miller averaged 9+ points per game in each of his four seasons with the Panthers, and finished his college career with more than 1,200 points and 740 assists.
While Miller was playing for Pitt, a young Jeff Capel was playing high-school ball in North Carolina. In 1993, Capel won the 1993 North Carolina Player of the Year award for his performance as a senior.
“It was a big deal when Sean went to Pitt,” Capel said. “He was a four-year starter. Really, really good player. Got the assist on the most famous play ever at University of Pittsburgh and one of the greatest plays ever in college basketball history. He is a Pitt man. He has been an outstanding coach. I remember him as an assistant coach at NC State when I played for Herb Sendek. You knew then, just watching him on the sideline, watching the passion and the fiery demeanor that he had, you knew that he was destined to be a really good coach. And he has done that at every place that he has been. He has been an outstanding coach.
During his Pitt career, Miller famously played assist-man to one of the most iconic dunks in college basketball history and without a doubt the most notable slam in Pitt history: Jerome Lane’s “Send it In!” slam.
“I think that dunk, that play makes a strong case for the greatest dunk in college basketball history,” Miller said on Saturday. “It was on Big Monday, I believe, in front of the nation. I think the only negative about the play and to be associated with it for so long is sometimes I don’t think that people really take into consideration the great player that Jerome Lane was. It almost is as if he made that one play, but he led the nation in rebounding, was an All-American, an NBA player. Just an incredible player too. He was inducted into Pitt’s Hall of Fame this fall. I was really grateful that I could attend. Saw him and a lot of teammates. It was great to be there. The one thing when you are a part of that play, no one can ever accuse you of not playing. Every February you remind them that you at least could dribble and pass.”
Following his playing career, Miller became a graduate assistant at Wisconsin, kicking off his coaching journey. He has since coached for Xavier (2004-09), Arizona (2009-21), and is now back in Cincinnati coaching the Musketeers.
Back in 2018, Miller was even rumored to have interest in the Pitt head coaching vacancy. On Saturday, he was asked about that opportunity, and whether or not he had thought about pursuing that position.
“No, not really,” he said. “It never worked out. You know, I think for me that’s all the better because in some ways I want my memories of Pitt to be when I was there as a student, as player. Some of the greatest years of my life, playing in the Big East Conference, you know, meeting people like Curtis Aiken, who does the radio for Pitt, who took me under their wing, treated me like I was a younger brother. And I really learned a lot on and off the court through my experience at Pitt. As much off the court as on the court. And it’s a big reason why I wanted to go into coaching, to be around that. Those are some great times. Those are my memories, that and family and friends. I think it’s simpler that way.”
Miller has an overall record of 448-165 in his head coaching career. This year’s Xavier squad is his 12th team that he has taken to the NCAA Tournament, and the Musketeers are still dancing.
Sunday’s game against Pitt will tip off on Sunday at 12:10 p.m. live on CBS. The winner will advance to face the winner of Penn State-Texas.
