Arizona men’s basketball coach Sean Miller is interested in the opening at Maryland after the sudden retirement of Gary Williams, according to reports.
Miller is just one candidate to replace Williams at Maryland. The Baltimore Sun reported via anonymous sources Friday that while Miller was on the list of coaches that Anderson compiled, he was not the lead candidate and the Terrapins were awaiting word on somebody else.
Saturday, Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne reached out to fans via Twitter and Facebook.
“”Wildcat Faithful, please know that we have been & continue to work to keep Sean Miller as our coach,”” the Facebook message said. “”During our ongoing conversations Sean is very aware & has been very aware, that we want him to be our coach. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that happens hope you have seen our department make a real effort to be transparent & honest. As we are able, we will continue to communicate.””
Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star wrote Saturday that Miller sent Eric Cooper Sr., the head coach of UA commitments Grant Jerrett and Eric Cooper Jr., a text message that said “”all is good.”” Miller met with recruit Chris Thomas on Friday before traveling to a coaching clinic in Las Vegas.
He is expected to return Saturday to host recruit Shabazz Muhammad, the Star said.
On Saturday morning, there were conflicting media reports about Miller’s status. ESPN 980 in the Washington DC area reported it was a done deal that Miller would go to Maryland, but FoxSports.com’s Jeff Goodman said that was untrue.
Goodman Tweeted later Saturday afternoon that “”sources close to Sean Miller have said they do not expect him to drag this out…Decision could come as soon as today.””
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Andy Katz quoted an anonymous source with “”direct knowledge,”” who said Miller is “”looking at Maryland from a recruiting standpoint of how you can get the flood gates to open up there if you did it the right way and then compete for Final Fours yearly.
“”But he also has Arizona at a level now where there isn’t as much competition for players [out West], where the Pac-12 now has a major television commitment, where he could stay there for 20 years. So it comes down to what his family wants to do. That’s why he could talk to Maryland and not go.””
Miller is expected to meet with Maryland AD Kevin Anderson Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas, where Miller was attending a basketball clinic, according to multiple media outlets.
Ollie Goulston, the head coach of incoming Wildcat Angelo Chol, told Pascoe that a recent conversation with Miller revealed that the Arizona coach is concerned with pay for his staff among the desire to gain charter flights.
Arizona commit Nick Johnson had no comment when contacted by the Daily Wildcat.
