((HT: Gary Parrish/CBSSports))Xavier's Sean Miller ((pictured, thanks Joe Robbins/Getty)) boarded a private plane sent by Arizona officials early Sunday and flew to Albuquerque, N.M., to meet with Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood about coaching the Wildcats, multiple sources told CBSSports.com.
Whether Arizona asked Xavier for permission to speak with Miller is unclear, and also moot. Requesting permission to speak with another schools' coach is mostly a courtesy in this business, almost never a necessity. To wit, sources have told CBSSports.com that people working on behalf of Arizona have contacted various high-major coaches all season in informal ways, in some cases as early as November.
According to sources, Miller has been told he could receive a package at Arizona worth more than $15 million spread over seven years. Still, there is no guarantee he'll take the job, the sources said, because he's comfortable at Xavier and positioned to have a team that should win another Atlantic 10 title next season.
Whether Arizona asked Xavier for permission to speak with Miller is unclear, and also moot. Requesting permission to speak with another schools' coach is mostly a courtesy in this business, almost never a necessity. To wit, sources have told CBSSports.com that people working on behalf of Arizona have contacted various high-major coaches all season in informal ways, in some cases as early as November.
According to sources, Miller has been told he could receive a package at Arizona worth more than $15 million spread over seven years. Still, there is no guarantee he'll take the job, the sources said, because he's comfortable at Xavier and positioned to have a team that should win another Atlantic 10 title next season.
Miller has been at Xavier five seasons.
He has made four NCAA tournaments, including one Elite Eight.
He has made four NCAA tournaments, including one Elite Eight.
Arizona has already been publicly rejected in its search to replace Lute Olson by Southern California's Tim Floyd. Some other candidates the school has informally pursued to varying degrees are Mark Few (Gonzaga), Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh), John Calipari (Memphis/Kentucky), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), Bruce Pearl (Tennessee) and Tom Izzo (Michigan State).
Checking with the Arizona Republic's Paola Boivin again, she raises an interesting point...
Miller is considered a top candidate to replace Jim Calhoun when the Connecticut coach, who has battled recent health issues, steps down...
Andy Katz with the four-letter says that Xavier AD Mike Bobinski is prepared to make any kind of counter-offer if Livengood throws a US Mint at Miller- which is expected.
"We have done and will continue to do whatever is humanely possible to keep Sean."
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