South Carolina Basketball: 7 candidates to replace Frank Martin as head coach
By Joey Loose
Archie Miller
Mid-major coaches are usually the hot names for these types of openings, but they don’t always work out. Even someone who does incredible things at the mid-major level can still fail at a power conference job, no matter the level of experience. However, that doesn’t mean those same coaches don’t deserve a second chance. That was complicated, but we basically described the plight of Miller.
A point guard at nearby NC State, he began his coaching career on the staffs of Herb Sendek, Thad Matta, and brother Sean Miller, getting experience at four different power conference schools along the way. He had great success in six years leading Dayton, taking the Flyers to an Elite Eight run in 2014. However, Miller flamed out after four rough years as head coach at Indiana.
Miller’s second chance at the power conference level could be a steal for South Carolina. He’s still a great coach and talented recruiter, but South Carolina would not only be a solid fit, but would be a much less-pressured job than trying to appease Indiana. If his time with Dayton is any indication, Miller is a winner and he could turn this Gamecocks program back into a winner.