It seemed like it was destined to happen, but Texas fired coach Rodney Terry. Texas finished the season 19-16 and 6-12 in the SEC. While they squeaked into the tournament with the likes of North Carolina, they had expectations beyond the First Four. However, Texas wilted under the pressure and lost to Xavier in Dayton. That was earlier this week, yet they waited until Sunday to announce the firing. Not only did they miss out on coaches like Ryan Odom and Will Wade, but their season never really got going under Terry. Some said he should have been fired sooner. If he had been fired during the season, they might not have made the tournament, but they would have had the opportunity to hire Jai Lucas, who went to Miami. However, Texas hired Sean Miller, Xavier’s head coach, to fill the void. So, what’s the grade on the Sean Miller hire?
Texas Fires Terry, Hires Sean Miller: Grading the Move
Why Texas Fired Rodney Terry
Rodney Terry filled the coaching void, left by Chris Beard following a series of allegations, for the 2022-23 season. Terry led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight and looked to be an elite coaching hire. However, he struggled to find the same success. Texas made the NCAA Tournament but failed to make any noise. They lost 29 games combined over the last two seasons. The SEC was great this season, but winning is the name of the game.
Texas also failed to establish an identity under Terry. They failed to finish in the top 30 in KenPom‘s offensive or defensive efficiency over the last two seasons. Texas fired Terry because of his inability to win games and establish that identity. Whether it be Alabama’s fast-paced offense or Houston’s lockdown defense, the best teams force opponents to play their game. They are masters of manipulating the opponent’s gameplay. Texas found themselves playing the other team’s style far more than establishing their own.
Why Texas Hired Sean Miller
Sean Miller has a huge reputation for winning. While firing Terry is an unfortunate consequence. he wasn’t able to provide the same level of competitiveness in the loaded SEC. Xavier had a dynamic offense that played with extreme tempo. In the modern SEC, that’s a style that is almost necessary to be successful. Florida, Auburn, Alabama, and others all love to move the ball up the floor and score quickly. Sean Miller’s coaching style fits perfectly.
Miller has also won 487 games in his 20-year coaching career. While his squads have sometimes disappointed in the NCAA Tournament, he has no problem coaching his squads to the Big Dance. 13 of his 20 seasons have ended in the NCAA Tournament. He brings an elite winning culture (over 24 wins per season) to a program that has struggled since Chris Beard was dismissed as head coach.
What’s the Grade?
Texas made a mistake by waiting so long to fire Terry, but hiring Miller ended up making it better. Texas should have tried for the young Lucas. They could have had younger elite coaches, but they opted for a more experienced elite coach. There’s nothing wrong with the hire. Sean Miller can bring this team to elite levels. He may not have been a coach that many teams could reach, but Texas was able to steal him from Xavier. Texas will be better off for it.
Grade: A-
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