AUSTIN, Texas — Sean Miller, who has coached teams to four Elite Eights and eight regular-season titles in 20 years as a head coach, has been hired to take over the Texas men’s basketball program, replacing Rodney Terry, who was let go after three seasons coaching the Longhorns, a source close to the situation told Horns247.

Miller, 56, who spent the last three years coaching at Xavier, helped lead the Musketeers to an 86-80 victory over Texas in a First Four play-in game in Dayton on March 19, ending the Longhorns’ season with a record of 19-16. Xavier then lost in a Round of 64 matchup against sixth-seeded Illinois, 86-73.

Miller has won everywhere he’s coached with an overall career record of 487-196 (.713).

Miller was 120-47 (.719) in five seasons at Xavier from 2005-09, a run that included Miller’s first Elite Eight appearance in 2008 and a Sweet 16 in 2009.

In 12 seasons at Arizona – from 2010-21 – Miller went 302-109 (.735) with Elite Eight appearances in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and Sweet 16 appearances in 2013 and 2017.

In the last three seasons at Xavier, Miller was 65-40 (.619) with a Sweet 16 appearance in 2023 against Texas, won by the Longhorns, 83-71.

At that time, I was told if Rodney Terry didn’t have the run he had, Del Conte would’ve hired Miller.

In fact, a source told me if Miller and Xavier had beaten Terry and Texas in a 2023 Sweet 16 matchup in Kansas City, Miller would’ve been hired at Texas – not Terry.

So, the irony of last Wednesday night’s First Four matchup of Miller and Xavier against Terry and Texas – again, in the NCAA postseason – possibly having more significance than simply the outcome of the game was almost beyond belief.

“That’s the one thing about our team, the resiliency of the group has always won out for us,” Miller told CBS after rallying from 13 down to beat Texas. “Just when you thought we weren’t going to make the [NCAA] Tournament, we kept winning. And, even in this game, just when you’re like – it’s not going to work out – we have a funny way of staying with it.”

Miller, a tireless worker and recruiter, has been a head coach for 20 years and has finished first in his conference eight times (three times at Xavier and five times at Arizona).

Those who’ve worked with Miller say his vibrant personality will re-energize NIL-raising efforts with Longhorn boosters, who have been doubting the direction of the program under Terry.

Those who’ve worked with Miller say his relentless, demanding work ethic and ability to connect with recruits are the reasons Miller has been a consistent winner, including at Xavier, a school with very little NIL money. Miller had four years remaining on his current contract at Xavier, which runs through the 2028-29 season.

Miller was let go at Arizona in 2021 but was paid the remainder of his contract after an investigation showed that Arizona used an athlete during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons who should have been ineligible.

Former Wildcats assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson was given a 10-year show-cause penalty, but Miller was not levied any punishment following the investigation.

Arizona was forced to vacate 50 wins from the two-year time span in which the athlete participated for the Wildcats.

Horns247’s Eric Henry contributed to this report.