The search is over.
Indiana University named former University of Dayton head coach Archie Miller as its new men's basketball coach on Saturday.
Miller's task is to meet, if not exceed, the clear and lofty expectations set by Indiana University Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass when the latter relieved Tom Crean of his duties on March 16:
"The expectations for Indiana University basketball are to perennially contend for and win multiple Big Ten championships, regularly go deep in the NCAA tournament, and win our next national championship—and more after that. We will identify and recruit a coach who will meet these expectations."
Miller won an Atlantic 10 regular season title in each of the last two seasons and led Dayton to the Elite Eight in 2014, which is further than Indiana has advanced in the NCAA Tournament since the Hoosiers' national championship game appearance in 2002.
Miller's teams have been efficient on both ends of the floor, ranking in the top-40 nationally in offensive efficiency in his first three seasons at Dayton and as high as No. 15 in defensive efficiency.
During Miller's six-year tenure at Dayton, he compiled remarkably similar numbers to Crean's during the latter's final six seasons in Bloomington, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Indiana University named former University of Dayton head coach Archie Miller as its new men's basketball coach on Saturday.
Miller's task is to meet, if not exceed, the clear and lofty expectations set by Indiana University Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass when the latter relieved Tom Crean of his duties on March 16:
"The expectations for Indiana University basketball are to perennially contend for and win multiple Big Ten championships, regularly go deep in the NCAA tournament, and win our next national championship—and more after that. We will identify and recruit a coach who will meet these expectations."
Miller won an Atlantic 10 regular season title in each of the last two seasons and led Dayton to the Elite Eight in 2014, which is further than Indiana has advanced in the NCAA Tournament since the Hoosiers' national championship game appearance in 2002.
Miller's teams have been efficient on both ends of the floor, ranking in the top-40 nationally in offensive efficiency in his first three seasons at Dayton and as high as No. 15 in defensive efficiency.
During Miller's six-year tenure at Dayton, he compiled remarkably similar numbers to Crean's during the latter's final six seasons in Bloomington, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Miller achieved nearly the same level of success while at a smaller program with fewer resources than Indiana. Also impressive is Miller's ability to adapt to the roster at his disposal.
During the 2014-15 season, Dayton was down to six scholarship players, none of whom were taller than 6-foot-6. The Flyers went 27-9 and advanced to the Round of 32. Then, Dayton's starting center passed away last May and one of its forwards, a former four-star recruit, missed three months this season due to an injury but the Flyers went 24-8 and won a conference title.
Injuries, especially this season, were a common excuse for the Hoosiers, either expressed by parties internally or externally. While OG Anunoby and Collin Hartman's season-ending injuries certainly limited Indiana's ceiling, the team's roster was by no means depleted of talent. Hiring a coach who can be successful when the deck is stacked against him should be encouraging for Indiana fans.
Recruiting will be one of the biggest challenges and opportunities for Miller. From 2012 to 2017, Miller focused his recruiting efforts in the Midwest, where he received five commitments from Ohio, two from Illinois, one from Indiana and one from Michigan. He also brought players to Dayton from Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Virginia, a region in which Indiana recruited heavily during the Crean era. Miller is also willing to think outside the box in recruiting, receiving commitments from one junior college player, one Canadian player and another from a player from the Czech Republic.
Miller was successful at Dayton with three-star recruits and now his task will be to recruit higher profile players while also emphasizing in-state recruiting.
"IU is one of the greatest basketball programs and academic institutions in the country and I cannot wait to get started," Miller said in a statement released by Indiana. "With peerless fan support, outstanding facilities and tradition, a beautiful campus, and located in one of the most fertile recruiting areas in the country, IU is a dream destination for me and my family. I cannot wait to connect with former players, current players, and future players and all of Hoosier Nation."
Miller was an assistant coach at Ohio State and Arizona before taking over at Dayton, so he does have experience recruiting at the high-major level, albeit as an assistant.
At just 38-years-old, Miller is arguably the best college basketball coach under the age of 40. His success at Dayton turned him into a hot commodity in coaching carousels for several years but he held out for an elite job.
It very well could be his job for the next 20-plus years.
During the 2014-15 season, Dayton was down to six scholarship players, none of whom were taller than 6-foot-6. The Flyers went 27-9 and advanced to the Round of 32. Then, Dayton's starting center passed away last May and one of its forwards, a former four-star recruit, missed three months this season due to an injury but the Flyers went 24-8 and won a conference title.
Injuries, especially this season, were a common excuse for the Hoosiers, either expressed by parties internally or externally. While OG Anunoby and Collin Hartman's season-ending injuries certainly limited Indiana's ceiling, the team's roster was by no means depleted of talent. Hiring a coach who can be successful when the deck is stacked against him should be encouraging for Indiana fans.
Recruiting will be one of the biggest challenges and opportunities for Miller. From 2012 to 2017, Miller focused his recruiting efforts in the Midwest, where he received five commitments from Ohio, two from Illinois, one from Indiana and one from Michigan. He also brought players to Dayton from Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Virginia, a region in which Indiana recruited heavily during the Crean era. Miller is also willing to think outside the box in recruiting, receiving commitments from one junior college player, one Canadian player and another from a player from the Czech Republic.
Miller was successful at Dayton with three-star recruits and now his task will be to recruit higher profile players while also emphasizing in-state recruiting.
"IU is one of the greatest basketball programs and academic institutions in the country and I cannot wait to get started," Miller said in a statement released by Indiana. "With peerless fan support, outstanding facilities and tradition, a beautiful campus, and located in one of the most fertile recruiting areas in the country, IU is a dream destination for me and my family. I cannot wait to connect with former players, current players, and future players and all of Hoosier Nation."
Miller was an assistant coach at Ohio State and Arizona before taking over at Dayton, so he does have experience recruiting at the high-major level, albeit as an assistant.
At just 38-years-old, Miller is arguably the best college basketball coach under the age of 40. His success at Dayton turned him into a hot commodity in coaching carousels for several years but he held out for an elite job.
It very well could be his job for the next 20-plus years.