Texas Hires Former Xavier Coach Sean Miller

Miller led Xavier to an NCAA tournament win over Texas last season before taking over as Longhorns' head coach.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 7:54am

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Sean Miller, who was the head coach at Xavier last season, has been hired as the new head basketball coach at the University of Texas. Miller led Xavier to a victory over Texas in the NCAA tournament just a week before accepting the job in Austin, where he will now be tasked with turning around the Longhorns program.

Why it matters

The hiring of Sean Miller is a major coup for the University of Texas, as they were able to lure away a proven winner from another top college basketball program. Miller's tournament success and reputation for developing talent should provide a boost to the Longhorns, who have struggled in recent years to be a consistent national contender.

The details

Miller, 48, agreed to a 6-year contract worth $5 million per year to become the new head coach of the Texas Longhorns. He replaces Chris Beard, who was fired midway through this past season after a domestic violence arrest. In his 7 seasons at Xavier, Miller led the Musketeers to 5 NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2023.

  • Miller was the head coach at Xavier last season.
  • On March 17, 2026, Miller's Xavier team defeated Texas in the NCAA tournament.
  • On March 24, 2026, Miller was announced as the new head coach at the University of Texas.

The players

Sean Miller

The 48-year-old is the new head basketball coach at the University of Texas, having previously served as the head coach at Xavier University.

Chris Beard

The former head coach of the Texas Longhorns, who was fired midway through the 2025-26 season after a domestic violence arrest.

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What they’re saying

“We’re thrilled to welcome Sean Miller to the Longhorn family. His track record of success and ability to develop talent make him the perfect fit to lead our program to new heights.”

— Jay Hartzell, President, University of Texas

What’s next

Miller will be formally introduced as the new Texas head coach at a press conference on Monday, March 27th.

The takeaway

The hiring of Sean Miller represents a major coup for the University of Texas as they look to restore their men's basketball program to national prominence after several down years. Miller's tournament pedigree and track record of developing NBA-caliber talent should provide an immediate boost to the Longhorns.