On The Clock
Sean Miller

Sean Miller, who is in his second year as Xavier University’s first-ever associate head basketball coach, spent the previous five seasons as an assistant to Herb Sendek at North Carolina State and two years under Sendek at Miami (OH).

Miller, a 33-year-old Pittsburgh native, came to Xavier after coaching stops at North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Miami (OH) and Wisconsin.

Miller, who was an outstanding high school basketball player for his father John at Blackhawk HS, played his college basketball at the University of Pittsburgh. He is regarded as one of the best point guards in Big East history. He was the 1988 Big East Freshman of the Year and earned second team All-Big East honors as a senior. PSR’s George Von Benko recently put Miller On The Clock.

PSR: Are you enjoying your stay at Xavier?

SM: I am enjoying Xavier, when I came to Xavier with our new staff I was fully aware of the tradition in basketball that Xavier had compiled with Bob Staak through Pete Gillen through Skip Prosser. You don’t win that many years in a row if something isn’t special at the university and the basketball program. I’ve learned a lot and I appreciate how important it is to be at a great place.

PSR: Are you excited about this year’s team?

SM: I am excited and our staff and our players and everybody involved in the program is excited. Anytime that you go 26-6 and we were able to do that a year ago, and when David West decided to return for his senior year-what it did is I think it really took effect in the off season. We have had several guys including David that have raised their game and we are returning four starters. We also really beefed up our non-conference schedule. I think we have a good team, but we’re going to be tested almost game in and game out. By the time we get to January we will have been through a lot.

PSR: Do you still follow the Pitt program?

SM: I do, I follow Pitt more closely now than ever. I guess like a lot of people when I first left Pittsburgh-a guy who had never ever been anywhere else in terms of living-I don’t think I fully appreciated Pittsburgh and all it had to offer. I certainly didn’t appreciate so many different people who helped me during not only my time at Pitt, but during my time growing up in the city. As I’ve gotten older and been involved in other places and gone away, I appreciate the city of Pittsburgh and what I had there way, way more now than I ever did before. Watching Pitt as a university and as a fan now-Ben Howland and Walt Harris-it is just amazing that the school has those two coaches in their two main sports. It is something to be proud of. Ben Howland is certainly one of the best coaches in college basketball.

PSR: What are your thoughts on the Big East and the Atlantic 10 this season?

SM: Well, I know a little bit more about the Atlantic 10 than I do the Big East. I’m pulling for Pitt in the Big East, that’s where it stops with me there. In terms of the Atlantic 10 I think the conference a year ago was one that was very unique because there were so many different first year head coaches. I don’t know if that’s ever happened before. Now it’s a lot like at Duquesne where you have a year under your belt and you’ve implemented your system and on top of that recruiting some of your own players. I think there’s going to be great improvement in several programs and as a conference we’re going to be shooting for more than one bid to the tournament. It’s a very competitive conference.

PSR: You are the son of a coach and you’ve been an assistant. Is the ultimate goal a head-coaching job?

SM: It is, again I think as I get older I think the more I realize that it’s very important-that if and when that opportunity comes it is in a program where you have great support from your administration, where people are clearly on the same page in terms of winning. I think to answer your question-yes I would like to be a head coach, but I certainly would like to have an opportunity to be one in a good place.