Arizona Basketball would be foolish to fire Sean Miller

With only one year remaining on the contract for Arizona Basketball head coach Sean Miller, now is not the time to part ways.

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire but in this case, I hope that the rumors of Arizona Basketball head coach Sean Miller being let go after this season are untrue.

The frustration has certainly finally reached a tipping point for the Wildcat faithful, as we are approaching four-plus years of this dark cloud hanging above our beloved basketball program.

Arizona Wildcats

The frustration of fans can be seen and felt everywhere, and it has led to numerous, unwarranted calls for Miller to lose his job at the end of this season.

When fans call for a coach’s job to be taken away, my first response is always “who would the program replace him with that could do a better job?”

Outside of the program, there are not many options that the University of Arizona could pursue or should want to pursue. Bringing in a new coach, to get rid of the sour taste leftover by the FBI Investigation and one-year postseason ban, only to replace it with a rebuild that could take many years depending on how well the coach can recruit seems like a silly and impulsive move.

If you’re Arizona Basketball and your hope is that by replacing Sean Miller, it means the NCAA will be more lenient? Then, it is a bold and risky strategy that may not even pan out.

Yes, Miller’s results at the University of Arizona have been a bit un-Arizona-like these past few years, and the optics have been bad, to stay the least, so the calls for a “cleaner” program are at least somewhat reasonable. However, at some point fans and the Wildcat Community have to look past the FBI Investigation and look to the future of the program.

The future of the program could be led by a coach (Miller) who reached 300 wins at Arizona and was the third-fastest all-time in the Conference, who has dominated the in-state rival at every turn, and continues to recruit and adapts as the college game continues to evolve.

Not to mention the fact that he has embraced the culture that Lute Olson has set for the program by inviting alumni back to speak and even be part of the program like Jason Terry, something that Wildcat fans have been screaming for from the rooftops. Sean has been doing it and seemingly does not get the praise and recognition that he deserves.

With Sean Miller being compliant with the FBI and the University of Arizona during this investigation, even going as far as imposing a one-year postseason ban, and still going out there to empower his players to play hard each game day mainly for no other reason besides “Pride”. We as University of Arizona fans, need to give our coach another chance! Another chance to make a deep run in the tournament and regain the momentum we captured just a few years back.

I know, we as Wildcat fans can talk in the circles on this subject and it all goes back to the “FBI Investigation”. To that I say, Miller has done everything in his power to clear his name and move on.

To no fault of his own, the NCAA has drug their feet and the process has moved at a snail’s pace. If and when the NCAA wraps this up and they come back with concrete evidence against Coach Miller, then yes, move forward and go in a different direction if you feel it is best. Until then, we as fans and as a University need to back Coach Miller just like we did the day after the report broke and we played the Oregon Ducks.

There are brighter days ahead for this program and it could be a soon as next year as Miller and company are expected to return most, if not all of their core players from this squad. Stay loyal, stay strong, and as always Bear Down!