Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller said in a statement released Wednesday that he is not a candidate for the Pitt job, but he did not address a published report he met with athletic director Heather Lyke.
“I am not a candidate for the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball head coaching vacancy,” Miller said. “I wish them well in their search for a new coach.”
Miller, a former Pitt point guard and a Blackhawk graduate, has been Arizona's coach since 2009, with seven NCAA Tournament appearances in nine seasons. The Wildcats were eliminated by Buffalo in the first round this year.Before Arizona, he coached at Xavier for five years, with four tournament berths.
This year, an ESPN report linked Miller to an FBI telephone wiretap in which he is discussing a $100,000 payment to ensure star recruit Deandre Ayton signed with Arizona. Miller denied the charge.
Pitt is concluding its second week without a basketball coach after firing Kevin Stallings on March 8 after two seasons in which he was 5-34 against ACC teams.
As a show of support for Stallings, all but two players with eligibility remaining announced their intent to transfer and asked for and received their release from the university. Nonetheless, they are eligible to return at any time.
Pitt has offered the job to Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley, who also is a candidate at Connecticut. Tom Crean, subsequently hired by Georgia, and former Ohio State coach Thad Matta also have been linked to the Pitt opening.
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
