What They Are Saying: Indiana's Hiring Of Archie Miller
On Saturday, Indiana made Archie Miller its 29th head coach in program history. Here's what other local and national media members had to say about the hire.
"The brother of Arizona coach Sean Miller, Archie Miller is widely viewed in much the same way his brother was when Sean moved west from Xavier in 2009 — as one of college basketball’s most promising young talents," writes Indianapolis Star IU Insider Zach Osterman.
"Hiring Archie Miller was a mic-dropping moment for IU athletic director Fred Glass, who needs to make like that dude from the Verizon commercial when he introduces Miller on Monday," according Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel. "Glass needs to show up for the news conference at Assembly Hall with a handful of microphones hidden all over his body, all ready to be dropped as he reads from the news release that announced the hire of Archie Miller on Saturday."
Chicago Tribune columnist David Haugh recognized the speculation surrounding UCLA head coach Steve Alford and Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, but said IU got the right guy:
According to ESPN Basketball Insider Jeff Goodman, older brother Sean's advice appeared to play a role in Archie's decision.
Fellow ESPN college hoops reporter Dana O'Neil came away impressed by the hire:
Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog applauded IU Athletics Director Fred Glass for selecting a young, qualified candidate instead of someone with IU ties.
"I want to extend our deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to Archie for an incredible run," Dayton Athletics Director Neil Sullivan said in a statement. "He is a first-class person and coach and has made incredible contributions to our men's basketball program, the University and the community. He has made a lasting impact on the student-athletes he has served."
"Growing up in Western Pennsylvania as the son of a legendary high school coach and the brother of a local college hoops hero, Archie Miller has prepared his entire life to become the head coach at a place such as Indiana," wrote The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy in his column about how Miller was bound for the IU from the beginning of his coaching career. "It may offend some of the most ardent Hoosiers that he didn’t prepare specifically for it to be Indiana, but he is too bright and too focused and too driven not to recognize the aspects of the position that make it extraordinary."
Miller brings an impressive resume to IU, according to BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart. His conference record and tournament success stand out to Dienhart.
"In 2014, Miller made a big name for himself by guiding the Flyers to the Elite Eight," Dienhart wrote. "From then on, he was one of the hottest commodities in the nation."
The Dayton Daily News gathered reactions from Dayton fans and students on Miller's departure to Indiana.
"I’m just tickled to death for Archie," Ron Scheper, a season ticket-holder for more than 40 years, told the Daily News. "It’s a great stepping stone."
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