Wes Miller Interview

Really need an introduction one anyway. UNCG the last 10 years just hired Cincinnati you already know that.

No, it's Wes Miller kind enough to join us. Back in the triad. Wes, congratulations on the new opportunity you're not really much of an emotional guy, but when I was watching your press conference last week, I thought goodness he actually is really emotional right now and it was specifically when you were talking about what the last 10 years of been like UNCG. How would you describe what that meant to you, and specifically what this city. The city of Greensboro means I don't think I can describe it.

Josh on you know you when our Rector here. John Cunningham called me to offer me the job that was a real you know that was a moment I'll never forget, and I was so incredibly excited and you not made a couple quick phone calls to my parents and Coach Williams and some other people and I walked out in the hall.

UNCG from my office and it was the biggest swing of emotions. I think I've ever experienced, then it just everything hit me real quick about you know is excited about was how difficult it was going to be to leave into to talk to these young people became the UNCG place for me to talk to players that came to UNCG in place for us only for the time they were there, but it stayed involved in connected and helped us build the program.

You know, year after year and then to think about what Greensboro means to me what you asked that don't think I can describe it, but I wasn't born there the first 10 years of my life there. You know my dad always been there so it's always been home in the overwhelming majority of my life there in that community has embraced me in the time that it was an easy or not. This is a basketball coach put the person you left. I put the words in all those emotions hit me at once and I was sad.

I think ever been in my life. So it was in a really strange one of emotions, but I also want to mention how excited I may not. When I got up here in this arena. For the first time, walked on this campus. I'm truly excited for the next. In this next challenge not always dreamed about coaching somewhere where it matters is much as it matters at Cincinnati and were there so much tradition there so much pride, but I look back, it UNCG.

I'm really proud.

I think the 10 years that we were there we created some more tradition we created. Some were probably created some more interest so that the modified looking back on what we accomplished in 10 years and UNCG West Millers with us here on sports untried. I know you had intentions on staying because right after the season ended the recruiting bear that out. With the amount of guys were staying. COBOL, for example, in John Newman who is now to be playing for you at Cincinnati committing to UNCG but I also know what North Carolina means to you and how good of a fit. Cincinnati is you spoke about in your press conference so give me a sense walked me through it. How would you characterize with the last three weeks of been like for a while let me know… Although it is very honest and open about my intentions are the last three or four years and not looking to leave UNCG always felt that his longest room for the program to keep growing that we were never to be stagnant or just be okay with what we were and that the University wanted the program to keep going. So that was like leadership from the top that I was really excited to be the coach of UNCG as long as I could on one. The one thing that I would consider it is a place that was just different. That made me move me yell me if I wouldn't be more money it wouldn't be another higher-level league like I was never to get me to just go to another job and I have some opportunities over the years that I honestly didn't even take seriously that work for money or perceived power level but always said is there certain places out there that if they really moved me. You know I would consider not very honest with every kid.

We recruited, you are certainly people just know you played North Carolina and you you know you care so much about the institution you went to school play that that that that type of place and I think people always assume that in people know that.

And so to go through that process. You don't even a small way that was less exhilarating right and that was a true honor to be considered national know how realistic it was 11 to be considered for that job.

That was an honor and then after that was over it was pretty clear that hey I have a great job on so excited to continue to be the coach of UNCG and then and in this opportunity popped up in. You know, I do think I figured Josh out. I think it this program is one where people really care and they cared what happened here.

Generation after that is not just that they had one Arab good basketball program had two national championships in and in and file servers and some of the greatest players ever played. Again, the history and tradition is just really special.

And this is the type of place that really moved me, but you mentioned the fit, you know, I think it's always thought about Cincinnati basketball from a distance.

I thought about the toughness in the grid, and you should.

Blue called a chip on your shoulder mentality.

I think people and great for that really know me and were close to our program that how we identified it UNCG, was identified in the game of basketball players. A coach so I do think that this my press conference at people up here can get over my southern accent.

I think the pond I really identified here in this community which I think identified that way and also in this program when talking about Carolina. I don't know if you're doing the modest thing that coaches and players often do.

We were talking the Bubba Cunningham last week that you got the job and he was fired up for you and said he was so impressed with you during the process of interviewing you.

You never felt like you had a chance to get that job, you know, I think anytime you're you're interviewing for a job. You know the people that are making the decisions I think is always a chance right from what but listen I mean you know undiluted that Hubert Davis was the right fit at the right time for the Carolina player.

I wanted to be somebody in the Carolina family and people that that you know that they were ready for that opportunity, and for that job.

I never understood exactly where I stood and it but I felt great about the opportunity and I gained a lot from that experience and affiliate really help me prepare for the interview process here and is amazing just how life works out. You know me you go to that you think okay this solidifies my future here UNCG and then this happens and so is life interest in an and listen. It was his strength through because you mentioned, but I can imagine things working out any better at Cincinnati totes West Miller with us here on sports untried. What were your thoughts on UNCG choosing to hire Mike Jones rather than hiring one of your former assistants because that's something that seems to have started a couple of your former players up yet.

You know, first off, we were really we really like an intimate program, UNCG, and I hope you know that you go to be like that here in Cincinnati but we were really intimate program and you know I think what we valued on an everyday basis with those relationships with the guys that we were coaching and in the guys that we had coach and that was an emphasis throughout the entire staff and if you are program for couple years you made that in this one new guys walked to the door and saw really tight knit bunch and I hope that'll last forever.

That's certainly my intention all and so I think when you have those type of feelings and you have that type of five certainly not have some guys that were assistant coaches that I think you're ready to be head coaches, I think they understood the culture that we establish their UNCG in a more invested in that so certainly I know I was really supportive of that. I think a lot of our four players and current players were as well, but I don't want to take away anything from the fact that Mike Jones is a great higher you know mom he's a terrific coach outcoached against him, and in all of our preparation coaching against an opt in blown away with how well prepared his teams are how well coach. They are the type of effort they play with and we had some great battles to great battles against Radford to the better teams that I've ever coach on so I really impressed with Mike is a coach but what matters to me even more than that is that I know it, people in the profession that are close with Mike.

I know some of the guys that he's coached some of the people that work form and everybody starts with how good of a person is how he truly cares for the people around them and the main thing that I Care deeply about UNCG just think people that know me know that and I want to see the program continue to grow and excel and I know Mike is going to be able to let continue to help the University in the program grow in the area basketball is also going to do it by looking out for not just the Japanese coaching got the big became the was well and and that that really does matter to me. So I am thrilled with the choice Michael B, terrific, and I hope everybody in Greensboro really embraces him and he'll do a great job last thing for West Miller here, what are you most proud of what you've accomplished the last 10 years you try to make me emotionally nonemotional, at least publicly, just to start out, you know to start guys from I'm really proud of that. Like the whims and you Josh you doing mom really proud of and like you start naming names and you lead people out, but saw nothing to do too much of that like the table one is from Greensboro.

I know I'm not staying in here without number. Other got to get into that so thank Josh never did on your show again. You do this to me again those former players and wet pavement to me personally and watching them grow up. It's made my life have purpose.

So that's what I think about nothing, we can hear it in your voice. I'm sorry to make you emotional congratulations on getting the job West. Thank you for everything you've done for us around here the first time you come to Greenville America. I'm an ECU grant now I'm to be rooting for the Bearcats. I'm to be rooting for the Bearcats against the Pirates and will be chatting. I'm sure somewhere down the line.

Thanks so much Barry is that's West Miller nonemotional guy but when he talks about his players. You can hear it. You can hear it in his voice just like to we heard there could Gelbart be the next host of Jeopardy do we still like the robot will discuss that next on the drive