AUSTIN - Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised the work Sean Miller has done as coach of the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team.
"I was actually pretty familiar with coach Miller from the University of Arizona being a West Coast and Pac-10, rest in peace, guy myself," said Johnson, a former Stanford point guard, in a reference to the Pac-10 of yore being no more.
Miller, who is in his second season with the Longhorns, served as head coach at Arizona from 2009 to 2021. He posted a 302-109 record with the Wildcats, guiding them to five conference championships, three Pac-12 Tournament titles, five Sweet Sixteen appearances and three Elite Eight trips.
"He's done a great job," said Johnson, who will lead the Spurs against the Houston Rockets on Friday night at the Moody Center. "I think he's got the University of Texas program in a great place that's going to continue to kind of take off and head in the right direction. And it's great always when you're kind of partnering with local, regional programs that are doing well. So I am a big fan and supporter."
The Spurs' ties to Miller's program will be strengthened when Texas faces Baylor in the "San Antonio Hoops Showdown" on Nov. 15 at the Frost Bank Center.
Miller, whose team will enter the 2026-27 season as a consensus preseason top-10 power after advancing to the Sweet 16 and finishing 25-15 overall last season, spoke earlier this year about how excited he was to be playing in San Antonio.
"This allows us to tap into our San Antonio fan base and in particular our great relationship with the San Antonio Spurs," Miller said via a news release.
"The Spurs come to Moody Center and play (in the regular season), and now we can reciprocate and go to their home court. It's great for our players, our team and, to a large extent, for the continued relationship and development between the University of Texas and the San Antonio Spurs."
Texas great and Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant also had high praise for Miller.
"I came back here a few weeks ago for I want to say the Ohio State (football) game and we spent a couple days together," Durant said. "I watched practice, worked out there, had a dinner with Sean. So I love what he brings. He's a legendary coach who's left his imprint all around the country in the basketball community. So I'm grateful he's here. He's one of those guys that cares about winning every day and enjoys the process. So I can't wait for him to have some success here."
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There’s more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Spurs' Mitch Johnson heaps praise on Texas basketball coach Sean Miller.