North Carolina State University Athletics
Groce And Miller Complete First Half Of Matta's Staff
5/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 15, 2001
CINCINNATI -- Xavier University men's basketball head coach Thad Matta has officially filled half of his coaching staff for the upcoming season. Sean Miller, who spent the past five seasons as an assistant to Herb Sendek at North Carolia State and two previous years under Sendek at Miami (Ohio), has been named as XU's first-ever associate head coach. John Groce, who spent four years as an assistant alongside Miller at NC State from 1996-2000, was an assistant under Matta last season at Butler University.
Sean Miller, a 32-year-old Pittsburgh native, comes to Xavier after coaching stops at North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Miami (Ohio) and Wisconsin. Miller has coached on seven teams that have advanced to postseason play in his nine seasons as an assistant coach.
"Sean is a guy I've known for seven years," said Matta. "He's a guy that brings tremendous experience both recruiting and coaching. He's a proven recruiter in the Big 10, the Big East and the ACC. He's shown that he can sign the top players in the country. He comes from a coaching family and has a tremendous knowledge of the game of basketball. He has the kind of personality where he gets along and communicates well with the players. In addition, he has played the game at a high level and knows what it takes to win in a top conference."
"I am excited about joining the Xavier basketball family," said Miller. The academic excellence of Xavier University coupled with the winning tradition of this basketball program speaks for itself. Having the opportunity to then work with a great friend and talented head coach in Thad Matta made my decision to become part of the Xavier staff an overwhelmingly positive one."
Miller began his coaching career as an assistant under Stu Jackson at Wisconson in the 1992-93 season. That's when then Miami head coach Herb Sendek offered him a full-time spot on his staff. The RedHawks made postseason appearances in both of Miller's two seasons at Miami (1993-95), including the 1994-95 team that finished 23-7 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Miller left Sendek's staff for one year, spending the 1995-96 season as an assistant under Ralph Willard at his alma mater, Pittburgh.
"I have enjoyed my time here at NC State, working as a part of the men's basketball staff," said Miller. "I will always treasure the friendships and experiences that I have gained as a member of the Wolfpack family. I am leaving NC State to accept the position of associate head coach at Xaiver University with newly appointed head coach Thad Matta. Thad and I became friends in 1994 while serving as assistant coaches together at Miami University under Herb Sendek," said Miller.
Miller reunited with Sendek in 1996, this time for the first of five seasons at North Carolina State. The Wolfpack made four postseason appearances in the five years (1996-2001) while Miller was at NC State, including the 2000 NIT Semifinals.
The 1992 Pittsburgh graduate was regarded as one of the best point guards in Big East history. He was the 1988 Big East Freshman of the Year and earned second-team All-Big East honors as a senior. Despite missing his sophomore season with a foot injury, hefinished his collegiate career at Pitt as the school's all-time leader in assists (744) and free-throw percentage (.885), and is currently ranked 10th on the school's all-time scoring list (1,282 points). In addition, he currently ranks among the top five in Big East Conference history in career assists (2nd) and free-throw percentage (1st).
Miller, who earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Pittsburgh in 1992, is moving to Cincinnati with his wife, Amy, and their two sons, Austin (6) and Cameron (3).
The other new member of Matta's new staff, John Groce, may be one of the hardest working, high energy coaches in the business today. Groce spent last season as an assistant under Matta at Butler, helping the Bulldogs capture the Midwestern Collegiate Conference regular season championsip, MCC Tournament championship and a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In fact, as a collegiate coach, Groce has helped his teams reach postseason play eight times in eight years.
"John is a high energy guy," said Matta. "He has tremendous passion for the game of basketball, especially for teaching the game of basketball. That passion carries over into recruiting and other areas.
"John is a guy I've known for many years. He was the first hire when I got the job at Butler. He has a great work ethic and he's a guy who knows the game of basketball but even more importantly he knows our system since he came with me from Butler. I think he's one of the best young coaches in the country."
Groce didn't hide his excitement about the job. "I am very excited about the opportunity to work at Xavier University and to continue working for Coach Matta," said Groce. "Xavier is a very special place and Coach Matta is a very special person and coach. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Xavier University family and a member of Coach Matta's staff."
Groce, a 29-year-old Danville (Ind.) native, is in his ninth season as an assistant at the collegiate level. Groce began his collegiate coaching career in 1993 as an assistant in under Paul Patterson at his alma mater, Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. During that time, Taylor compiled a 71-28 record and earned a pair of trips to the NAIA National Tournament. He helped Taylor to a 29-5 record and a No. 1 national ranking in 1994.
Groce got his first shot at NCAA Division I basketball in 1996 as he joined Herb Sendek's staff at North Carolina State. The Wolfpack made postseason appearances in all four years (1996-2000) while Groce was at NC State, including the 2000 NIT Semifinals.
Groce played basketball for three seasons at Taylor, helping the Trojans to a composite 86-18 record and three trips to the NAIA National Tournament. In 1991, Taylor advanced to the NAIA Final Four and finished with a 34-4 record. Groce earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Taylor in 1994.
"These are two guys that I truly respect as coaches and as people," said Matta. "The fact that they've worked together before is an added plus for us."
