Steele Lays Out His Vision For Miami Men's Basketball

OXFORD, Ohio – When the 28^th head coach in Miami men's basketball history was introduced Friday afternoon, one thing quickly became clear.

Travis Steele knows what Miami University Athletics is all about.

While any new coach will have a learning curve in their first days, weeks and months on the job, Steele's Midwest ties and experience at a variety of levels of basketball have given him a solid foundation of familiarity with the RedHawks' program that predated his candidacy for his new position.

Speaking to the crowd in attendance inside the Randy Gunlock Family Athletic Performance Center's Gloor Auditorium, Steele explained three things that have stood out to him about Miami ever since his days as a high school coach bringing prospective recruits to Oxford.

"I always knew what the brand was," Steele said.

"First and foremost, the education that you get here at Miami. It's top-notch. It's a world-class institution. You get a Miami degree, you're set for life…

"Second is the campus. When you think of getting that college experience that you want to be able to get, whether you're a student-athlete, a student – you think of a place like Oxford….it's beautiful…

"The third thing is the rich tradition of success in the men's basketball program."

Steele recited a list of accomplished players, coaches and facts from the RedHawks' storied hardwood history, including pointing out that Miami, the winningest program in MAC history, has won 21 league titles.

He has his sights set on No. 22.

And while Steele recognizes that a MAC championship is a goal all 12 programs in the conference share—including the Akron Zips, which Steele jokingly called his second-favorite MAC team because his brother John Groce is the head coach—Steele shared three key areas of focus that he thinks can help spur the Red and White toward the top of the conference standings.

"Number one, it's relationships. Here on campus, getting to know the right people, alumni, former players, and our current players most importantly," Steele said. Acknowledging that the change and uncertainty of a coaching transition can be hard, he pledged to make sure the RedHawks' returning players know that he's available for them and will spend as much time as he possibly can with them.

"Second is going to be development. We've got to get a heck of a lot better," Steele said. "We've got to get in the gym; we've got to work. There's no magic pixie dust for guys to get better. You've got to put the time in."

Steele said his style will have Miami pushing the ball offensively, playing smart and together, and taking pride on the defensive end.

He also vowed that Miami Basketball would be known for a 'crystal-clear' plan of development. "That's going to be the hallmark of our program," Steele said. "That's what we can do better than any other program in the country, [what] we can control on a day-to-day basis: The development of our players.

"The third thing is recruiting," he continued, pointing out both Oxford's proximity to hoops hotbeds like Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Chicago and Louisville, as well as the relationships he's developed during his many years in the Midwest.

"There is a ton of talent in this area," said Steele. "The Miami brand speaks really, really, really loud.

"And we've got to get guys that are going to represent us both on the court and off the court the right way."

Director of Athletics David Sayler said the RedHawks' search was focused on finding someone with Division I head coaching experience. "That was our number one priority. We just felt that was really important for where this program is right now and where we want it to go," said Sayler.

Steele, who posted a 70-50 record at Xavier over the last four seasons, certainly qualified. Sayler said the new Miami coach stood out quickly through the process 'for obvious reasons.'

"Basketball is life for him," Sayler said. "It's in every part of his blood."

Sayler said he asked Steele in the first few minutes of their initial conversation why he was ready to jump back into the grind of coaching so soon after his Xavier tenure ended. "I want to work, and I'm motivated to get right back in and have success," Steele told Sayler.

Steele's family —wife Amanda, sons Winston and Anderson, parents Barbara and Jerry—was sitting in the front row listening and smiling as he explained what life between coaching jobs had been like for him during a whirlwind March.

"We actually went down to Florida to get away for a couple days, and I was like, 'Man, I'm getting bored.'

"I want my wife to love me, and I think she'll love me a heck of a lot more if I got a job," he laughed.

"I don't look at it like this is a job," Steele clarified later. "My job, I guess, if you want to call it [that], is to help lead these young men in order to develop off the court, academically, basketball-wise. My job is to serve those guys.

"It doesn't feel like it's a job if you love it."

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Steele Lays Out His Vision For Miami Men's Basketball

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