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Rhode Island Basketball: 5 potential head coaching candidates for Rams

By Dave Ascoli

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach David Cox of the Rhode Island Rams looks on during a college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the Smith Center on February 19, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach David Cox of the Rhode Island Rams looks on during a college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the Smith Center on February 19, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Indiana Hoosiers head coach Archie Miller Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Archie Miller Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Archie Miller

Age: 43
Head Coaching Experience: Dayton (2011-17), Indiana (2017-21)
NCAA Tournament History: 2014 Elite Eight, 2015 Round of 32, 2016 & 2017 Round of 64

Warning: there are going to be some potential long-shot candidates on this list. Hey, that’s what makes it fun. And if URI hires an Archie Miller or a Steve Wojciechowski or another gentleman coming later in this list, the splash will reverberate throughout college basketball. Rhody has traditionally gone with the young, up-and-coming coach in recent years, but a proven winner could be in the cards if the Rams are willing and able to pony up the required cash.

And maybe they are? ESPN’s Jeff Borzello tweeted that he was hearing “Archie Miller whispers” regarding Rhode Island’s (then-potential) opening. Miller is no stranger to the Atlantic 10, having coached at Dayton for six seasons. After a short and mostly unsuccessful tenure at Indiana, is Miller willing to get back into coaching? If so, the A-10 certainly seems to be his sweet spot. He landed in four NCAA Tournaments with the Flyers, including a memorable trip to the Elite Eight in 2014.

Aside from the money issue (Archie should command some big coin), there’s also the demand issue. If Miller is ready to get back on the sidelines, there will be no shortage of programs requesting his services. Are any Power Six schools willing to take him on given his Indiana tenure? If not, that thins the herd a bit, but there are still plenty of schools in the A-10 and around that level looking for a new coach. Rhody will have to make an impressive pitch to land Archie.

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