Charlotte has hired Wes Miller as its new men's basketball coach, the school announced Monday. Miller agreed to a five-year contract, sources told ESPN. The 49ers will now be led by a coach with deep ties to the region and a proven track record. Miller, 53, spent 15 seasons as a head coach, most recently at Cincinnati where he was fired earlier this month after failing to reach the NCAA tournament in five seasons. Before Cincinnati, he coached UNC Greensboro for 10 years, building a strong program there.

Miller's hiring is a significant move for first-year athletic director Kevin White, who took over in late February. It replaces Aaron Fearne, fired last week after three seasons that ended with a 3-15 conference record. Miller's experience includes leading UNC Greensboro to three Southern Conference regular-season championships and two NCAA tournament appearances during his final five seasons there. His 2023-24 season at Cincinnati saw 20 wins but no tournament bid, and he ended each of the past four seasons on the bubble.

Miller expressed excitement about the opportunity, citing Charlotte's momentum and basketball roots. He emphasized building a championship culture and developing student-athletes. His father, Kenneth Miller, has ties to Wake Forest athletics, and Miller himself played at James Madison before transferring to North Carolina, winning a national title with the Tar Heels in 2005.