N.C. State announced Thursday head coach Mark Gottfried will coach the rest of the season and not return. Mark Armstrong, of ABC 11 in North Carolina, reported Monday Gottfried would be fired and that N.C. State had already sent out "preliminary feelers" to Miller.
Right after Armstrong’s report, N.C. State AD Fred Demarest released a statement calling the report that N.C. State had reached out to anyone “incorrect” and “blatantly irresponsible.”
RELATED: Four reasons Miller is coveted by bigger schools
Miller was asked Thursday how he deals with the noise that comes with reports like that. He’s used to dealing with rumors after the season. This is the first time he has been linked to a job during the season. The Flyers (20-5, 11-2) have five regular-season games remaining and play St. Bonaventure at 2 p.m. Saturday at UD Arena.
“If I’m the best at anything, I’m the best at not dealing with anything but the task at hand,” Miller said. “My concern is our players. My concern is our practice habits. Those things keep you focused. There’s really not a lot to think about other than our group. You can’t take ever take your eyes off that prize. We’ll try to put them in a situation Saturday where they can be at their best.”
Miller played at N.C. State from 1998-2002 and was an assistant coach there from 2004-06. He said it remains a special place for him.
“It’s a lot like our guys playing at Dayton,” Miller said. “The experience they have playing in front of tremendous fans, the experience they have going to school and all the great people around them who help them. I’m no different. I went to N.C State, played there, had a great experience. So many of those people have helped me along the way. As everybody else, you go into real life and as you get into real life, you go along your own path. That’s sort of where I am now.”
About the Author