Pac-12 Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | Jun 24, 2020

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott presents Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks with the Most Outstanding Player award after the Ducks' 68-48 victory over the Washington Huskies to win the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 11: Sean Miller head coach (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /

4. Sean Miller – Arizona (2009-2020)

Replacing legendary coach Lute Olson was a bumpy road for Arizona, as two interim coaches led the program before Miller’s hiring in 2009. There were big shoes to fill, but Miller had proved himself in five years as head coach at Xavier. He led the Musketeers to the top of the Atlantic 10, making an Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen along the way.

Miller’s time with Arizona has definitely been productive, but the lack of a Final Four continues to haunt him. He has led the Wildcats to three Elite Eights and two Sweet Sixteens to this point, winning five Pac-12 regular season titles as well. Simply put, Arizona has been the best program in the conference for most of his tenure; they just haven’t gotten over the Final Four hump.

Consider Miller’s recent involvement in the FBI scandal and how his team has really struggled these last two seasons and it’s easy to be hesitant when lauding him. The run of success during this first nine seasons has been very impressive, but Miller is certainly one of the best active coaches without a Final Four. If everything works out with the FBI probe and Miller gets this program back on track, then it won’t be a shock to see the Wildcats making another deep Tournament run one day soon.

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