Indiana University introduced Archie Miller as the new head men's basketball coach on the floor of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Monday.
Fred Glass wanted to hire a proven winner for Indiana's next coach. The athletic director didn't have to wait long - or travel far to find what he was looking for.
"Archie was on my short list from the very beginning and he's the only person whom I've offered the job," Glass says.
The 38-year-old Miller comes from a basketball family and put together a solid track record in six seasons with the Flyers - earning a school-record four straight NCAA Tourney bids, winning 24 games in each of those seasons and claiming the last two Atlantic 10 regular-season titles.
Miller's older brother, Sean, coaches at perennial powerhouse Arizona, and the younger Miller is considered one of the brightest young coaches in America.
"The reason I'm here and I really believe this, is the state of Indiana. The state of Indiana in many ways is me," Miller says.
He calls himself the son of a coach who sat around all day long with a ball in his hands since he was five years old.
"I cannot wait to connect with former players, current players, and future players and all of Hoosier Nation. I look forward to outlining my vision for IU Basketball."
Miller's teams are known for their disciplined, hard-nosed play. Glass also dubbed Miller a tireless recruiter in the Midwest and a "noted developer of talent."
Indiana fans wanted all of those features in their new coach - as expect postseason success, too.
Miller says they'll they have to start recruiting inside the state and then slowly move out across the country. He calls it 'inside-out.'
"We have to dedicate ourselves to the high school coaches in the state, the high school talent in the state, the grass roots programs in the state and they must feel like they're being dominated by Indiana University," Miller says.
The move comes at an opportune time for Miller. The Flyers are losing at least five players from the school's incredible four-year run.
"We did everything we could to keep Archie at UD, but now our sole focus turns to continuing to build the quality of our nationally competitive program," athletic director Neil Sullivan said in a statement.
Before taking the Dayton job in 2011, Miller worked as an assistant for his brother at Arizona and as an assistant under Thad Matta ta Ohio State. He also has been an assistant at Arizona State, North Carolina State, his alma mater, and Western Kentucky. And he worked on the staff with USA Basketball's under-19 team, which won the FIBA world championship gold medal in 2015.
Miller's father, John, coached in high school.
Sean, Archie and Lisa Miller all played Division I basketball, and now it's the youngest of the three children who finds himself leading a program that has won five national championships.
Glass says Miller will have seven years worth $3.35 million a year to add more championships.
"Even at a young age, having a very deep and broad coaching experience under a number of significant coaches and major programs. He's a proven winner, proven recruiter, proven player developer," Glass says.
