Andrew Pace
As of April 2021, the men's basketball head coach at the University of Cincinnati is Wes Miller, formerly of UNC Greensboro. Miller was hired on a six-year contract, replacing John Brannen, who was fired after the 2020–21 season. Miller's first season in charge saw the Bearcats finish with an 18–15 record, going 7–11 in conference play. Prior to Miller's appointment, there was speculation that Cincinnati would hire a Group of 5 head coach or an up-and-coming assistant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Wes Miller |
| Age | 38 |
| Previous Experience | Assistant coach at Elon University and High Point University, Head coach at UNC Greensboro |
| Achievements | 2012 Southern Conference Coach of the Year, 3 Southern Conference championships, Reached the NCAA tournament in 2018 and 2021, Recorded the program's first postseason victory in 2019, Winningest coach in UNC Greensboro history with 185 victories |
| Contract Length | 6 years |
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What You'll Learn
Cunningham's preferred timeline
As of December 2022, Cincinnati's Athletic Director, Cunningham, is searching for a new football coach. Cunningham is known to keep a tight lid on the proceedings, but sources suggest that the process is progressing swiftly, with the hope of having a candidate in place by the end of that week or early the next.
While Cunningham's timeline for the football coach search is not explicitly mentioned, his previous search for the men's basketball coach in April 2021 can provide some insight. In that instance, Cunningham began with an extensive list of 20 names, which he narrowed down through a similar process of interviews. The basketball coach search culminated in the appointment of Wes Miller, formerly of UNC Greensboro, within a few weeks of the initial announcement.
Given the urgency to find a coach before entering the Big 12, Cunningham's preferred timeline for the football coach appointment is likely to be similarly swift and efficient, aiming to have a new coach in place within a relatively short timeframe.
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Group of 5 head coaches
While there is no explicit indication that Cincinnati will hire a Group of 5 head coach, some sources suggest that this is a possibility. Here is a list of Group of 5 head coaches that could be considered for the role:
- Sean Lewis: Lewis is a potential candidate for the Cincinnati coaching position. He has an impressive overall record and has achieved sustained success in a challenging league. Lewis' familiarity and potential stability could be advantageous.
- Jason Candle: Candle has an impressive overall record of 73-40 at Toledo, including a 28-13 record over the last three years with a MAC title. Sustaining such success in a challenging league is commendable.
- Rick Stockstill: Stockstill has consistently led Middle Tennessee to success, with a 109-85 record over 14 seasons. He has guided the team to four bowl games in the last five years, demonstrating his ability to build and maintain a winning program.
- Skip Holtz: Holtz has found success at multiple schools, including Connecticut and South Florida. He led Louisiana Tech to a 34-30 record over five seasons, showcasing his ability to develop programs.
- Brent Brennan: In his first head coaching role at San Jose State, Brennan has led the team to a 27-18 record over four seasons. He guided the program to a conference title and has consistently improved their win-loss record each year.
- Ken Niumatalolo: With a 120-77 record at Navy, Niumatalolo has established himself as a successful Group of 5 head coach. He has guided the team to multiple bowl games and consistently competes in a challenging league.
These Group of 5 head coaches have proven their ability to lead successful programs and could be considered strong candidates for the Cincinnati coaching position if they decide to pursue a Group of 5 coach.
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Up-and-coming assistants
As of April 2021, the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team is Wes Miller, who replaced John Brannen. Miller, a former player and North Carolina native, was previously head coach at UNC Greensboro, where he had a record-breaking run. In his time there, the team won three Southern Conference championships and reached the NCAA tournament in 2018 and 2021.
However, sources indicate that the search for a new coach is ongoing, with Cunningham reaching out to coaches and agents to gauge interest from candidates across the country. While it is unclear whether Cunningham will opt for an internal candidate, there is speculation that he may consider up-and-coming assistants such as Leonhard, Golesh, Hartline, and Guidugli.
Leonhard, an up-and-coming assistant, may be a contender for the role. While there is limited information available on this candidate, it is worth noting that they are mentioned alongside other potential assistants. Golesh is another potential candidate who could be considered for the position. Golesh has likely had experience as an assistant coach and may have worked with Cunningham in the past or expressed interest in the role.
Hartline is also mentioned as an up-and-coming assistant who could be a possible candidate for the position. Hartline may have experience as an assistant coach at the college or university level and has likely had success in their previous roles to be considered for this opportunity. Lastly, Guidugli is another potential candidate for the head coach position. Guidugli may offer familiarity and potential stability, which could be advantageous, especially if the team is seeking a sense of continuity. Guidugli's experience and track record are likely to be positive, given their mention as a potential candidate.
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Wes Miller's replacement
The University of Cincinnati hired Wes Miller as its head coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats in April 2021. Miller joined the Bearcats with a strong resume, having spent the previous ten seasons as the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball coach. During his time at UNCG, Miller led the Spartans to three regular-season championships and two NCAA tournament appearances.
Miller was hired to replace John Brannen, who was fired after the 2020-21 season following an investigation into the program. In his first season with the Bearcats, Miller guided the team to an 18-15 record, finishing with a 7-11 conference play record and placing 8th in the American Athletic Conference.
Prior to his role at UNCG, Miller served as an assistant coach at Elon University and High Point University. He began his coaching career after playing professionally in England for a year with London Capital of the British Basketball League.
As for potential candidates to replace Wes Miller as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats, the university's athletic director, Cunningham, is known to keep a tight lid on the proceedings. However, there is speculation that Cunningham may prefer an internal candidate or an up-and-coming assistant coach. Some names that have received buzz or interest for the job include Sean Lewis, Kevin Candle, Deion Sanders, and Guidugli.
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Bearcats' future in the Big 12
The Bearcats' future in the Big 12 looks promising, with the team set to enter the conference with a strong schedule and a new head coach. The Big 12 has announced its football opponents for Cincinnati through the 2024 to 2027 seasons, providing the team with a clear idea of what to expect in the coming years.
In the short term, the Bearcats will host Arizona State, TCU, Houston, and West Virginia at Nippert Stadium, and travel to Colorado, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State, and UCF. The team will face a mix of familiar and new opponents, with the schedule based on geography, historic matchups, and rivalries. This includes first-time matchups against Arizona and Utah in 2025, and return fixtures against old rivals such as TCU and West Virginia.
The move to the Big 12 comes at a time when the Bearcats are also searching for a new head coach. The process is progressing swiftly, with in-depth interviews already taking place and a decision expected by the end of 2022 or early next week. The candidates being considered include a mix of internal and external options, with head-coaching experience being a key factor in the decision-making process.
One of the leading candidates is Wes Miller, who was hired as the Bearcats' men's basketball head coach in April 2021. Miller, a North Carolina native, played for the Tar Heels before beginning his coaching career as an assistant at Elon, High Point, and UNC Greensboro. He was promoted to head coach at UNC Greensboro in 2011, where he led the Spartans to three regular-season championships and two NCAA tournament appearances over ten seasons. Miller's success and familiarity with the program could make him a strong candidate to lead the Bearcats into the Big 12.
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Frequently asked questions
In April 2021, Cincinnati hired Wes Miller as their men's basketball head coach.
Miller was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and played basketball at the collegiate level for James Madison University and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. He then played professionally for London Capital of the British Basketball League before becoming an assistant coach at Elon University. He also served as an assistant coach at High Point University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he later became head coach.
Miller was one of the leading candidates for North Carolina's head coaching vacancy. He is the winningest coach in UNC Greensboro history, with 185 victories. During his time at UNC Greensboro, the team had an unprecedented run of success, reaching 25 wins for three successive seasons between 2016 and 2019, winning three Southern Conference championships, and reaching the NCAA tournament in 2018 and 2021.
According to sources, the process is progressing with the hope that a candidate will be in place by the end of the week or early next week. In-person interviews are expected to begin at the end of the week.
