URI basketball coach Archie Miller's first impressions
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Archie Miller spent the majority of his Monday doing some public speaking.
The University of Rhode Island introduced its new men’s basketball coach, and the press conference at Higgins Welcome Center played out in front of a capacity crowd. Miller offered an extended opening address before accommodating media requests over the next hour or so.
Here are a few extended cuts from Miller’s introduction. They include comments from a scrum with folks who cover the Rams on a regular basis.
On visiting the Ryan Center as the Dayton coach (2011-17):
“I always anticipated it was going to be a really hard day when we played. Traveling up here to play, you have tremendous respect for the coaching staff and the players.
“It was going to be a hard day. They get great support. I felt that all the way through — especially at the end. Dan (Hurley’s) teams were competing really hard for championships as well.
“Crowds are great. Fans are great. Remembering that as much as anything. You have an opportunity to represent something important.”
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On building a roster:
“Every conversation is going to start with our players individually. We can’t move forward as a program and operate as a team until we understand where we’re at individually. That’s the first step — not getting acquainted, but getting entrenched with the players who are on our campus. Getting to know them. Understanding what their vision is for themselves. How it aligns with what we want to do.
“Those conversations can take different turns. We have to get through those first. As we approach the remainder of the semester, the big goal is to be as intact as we can as we head into the summer. Then start to implement some of the basketball, some of the philosophy.”
On assembling a coaching staff:
“The great thing about being out for a year — it’s twofold. Everybody goes away. The people who go away, who reach out now — they’re probably not part of the equation. The people you’re entrenched with, who have been through hard times with you or good times, who have been on your staff or not — true, true friends — will always be part of the conversation.
“But I’m going to build a staff with 110% accuracy in what I’m trying to hire. Expertise, positive development, guys who are involved with players. Recruiting is everything with what we’re trying to do. But our staff will be built strategically, and I’m going to take my time with it.
“I think when you panic on getting to an area and listening to a lot of people who have interest — this guy, that guy — you have to sift through that and make your decisions based on exactly how you want to add someone. I’ll take my time on it. I have an idea.”
On player retention:
“The quality of life that will be provided for your student-athletes — they have to enjoy being at the place. They have to love being at the place. I think players respect discipline and organization as well. I think they want to get better. They want to succeed.
“Part of it is the culture you create — that they want to be there. There are a couple of other avenues — the ability to develop more (name, image and likeness) opportunities as a university. You create opportunities and brand players in a different way as they see fit, how they want to do it.”
On his checked blue jacket:
“I have a guy who took care of me pretty good over the last few years. He’d always send me coats, send me clothes — he sent me this one and I said, ‘I’ll never wear this.’
“Part of it is this shade of blue is usually the enemy for me given that I’m a North Carolina State graduate. But when I got the job and said we’ve got to do the press conference, this thing popped out. I was like, ‘Maybe I will wear it.’ It’s probably a one-time jacket, but it fits today.”
On four years at Indiana:
“Going to Indiana is a different animal. There’s no difference between Indiana basketball and Alabama football. It is 24/7/365. It’s a pressurized, stressful situation.
“It’s an unbelievable place to represent and I’m thankful for my time there. But as I come here, there’s not very much I haven’t seen. There are very few realities of the coaching business — the stress, the expectations — that I haven’t been through. I’m more prepared now than I probably would be to walk anywhere.”
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On filling the Ryan Center:
“It’s everything. You can’t be successful without that energy. You can’t be successful without that home-court advantage. You can’t be successful in anything you do without any pride in the program.
“URI basketball is synonymous. I remember when I was watching Tyson Wheeler and Cuttino Mobley run up and down the floor — I’m in their era. I remember when Coach (Jim) Harrick was here and I remember Coach (Jim) Baron’s teams with his sons playing. I know the talent they’ve had here — Dan’s battles over the course of a five- or six-year period of time. I know what it means to this place.
“This is a proud program that’s been synonymous over decades with great runs. I’m happy to be a part of that. I think one of the things that’s attracted all those coaches and one of the things that’s helped them is Rhody basketball. It’s a big thing.”
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here are basketball coach Archie Miller’s first impressions of URI
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