Brad Stevens Leaves Butler for Boston Celtics, Replaced by Former Assistant

Brad Stevens, the model of what a young coach has to do to a) compete in a mid-major environment and b) become absolutely beloved by the national media, departed Butler this week to take the head coaching job for the Boston Celtics. If this comes as a surprise to you, don't feel too bad; apparently his coaches and bosses were also taken aback by Stevens' sudden move.

Replacing Stevens will be Brandon Miller, who followed a somewhat circuitous route to the top seat at Butler. Miller's career began on Stevens' staff before he left to work as a special assistant to former Butler (and Xavier) head coach Thad Matta at OSU. After the 2010-2011 season, Miller walked away from the sport for a year. He came back last year to work on the staff at Illinois before Brad Stevens hired him back at Butler this April. Miller ascends to the head coaching position without having spent a single game as an assistant in his second stint.

What does this mean to Xavier? Well, one of the most consistent and excellent coaching presences in the conference has moved on. Not only that, but top assistant Matthew Graves left Butler for the head coaching position at South Alabama before Stevens' departure. A model of consistency, Butler suddenly has lost the top two men from their coaching staffs and is looking to solidify a potentially reeling program. This will be a big test for the Butler Way.

On the plus side they can use some of the money they were paying Stevens to get a scoreboard setup that works.