Arizona president on Sean Miller to Ohio State rumors: 'Over my dead body'

Immediately after Thad Matta was pushed out as Ohio State's head basketball coach, the speculation turned to possible replacements, including the Buckeyes may try to lure away Sean Miller from Arizona.

However, University of Arizona president Dr. Robert Robbins, less than a week on the job, said that would happen "over my dead body."

"The Ohio State University is great university, but they are not going to get Coach Miller," Robbins told the Arizona Republic on Tuesday. "They will have to come over me to get him, as the saying goes, over my dead body."

Miller's name was one of many rumored on social media after the Buckeyes surprisingly parted ways with Matta after 13 seasons on Monday and began a national search.

"I just think he is a quality guy," the Arizona president said of Miller. "I will do everything in my power to try to convince him to stay."

Robbins told the newspaper he takes recruiting coaching rumors "very seriously."

The 48-year-old Miller has coached the Wildcats since 2009, making six NCAA Tournament appearances and reaching the Elite Eight three times. He is 220-66 (.769) in eight seasons at Arizona but has been unable to lead the program to a Final Four berth. He has four regular-season Pac-12 titles.

In February, Miller and Arizona agreed to a contract extension that runs through the 2021-22 season. The deal guarantees Miller $2.6 next season and will pay him $2.9 annually over the final three seasons. He was signed through 2020 prior to the reworked deal.

Robbins said Miller is a "tremendous, tremendous individual who has had great success on the court. I know he's disappointed he couldn't bring a national championship to the state, given that the Final Four was here."

Miller's Wildcats are expected to be one of the top teams in the nation next season. His brother, Archie Miller, was hired as the head coach at Indiana in March.