If you are a college football fan, you have probably seen the meme featuring a coach on the sidelines with his shirt soaked through with sweat. That’s Sean Miller, the man behind the meme, which is still making rounds on the internet.
His latest nail-biter with Xavier reignited the meme, pulling that infamous sweaty snapshot into the spotlight. Here’s how a wardrobe malfunction turned Miller into a viral sensation.
Sean Miller and the Story Behind His Sweat-Soaked Meme
Last Friday, Xavier faced off against Illinois in a tense first-round clash. The Musketeers trailed by five at halftime, made a push in the second half, but untimely fell 86-76.
As the game heated up, social media erupted with cheers and that iconic image of a drenched Miller from years past.
The meme traces back to 2016. Miller, then coaching No. 6 Arizona, took on No. 11 Wichita State. With over 10 minutes left in the first half, the score was 12-8 in Wichita’s favor. Miller’s shirt was already a soggy mess.
Sooooooo… Sean Miller is kinda sweaty. pic.twitter.com/D6aEdsnjFR
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 18, 2016
Arizona lost 65-55, but the game’s real legacy was that sweat-soaked photo. It exploded online, becoming a go-to reaction image far beyond basketball circles. Miller later spoke to the Arizona Daily Star about the fiasco. “It seemed like something happened to me like I was sick or I was a raving lunatic on the sideline, that I sweated at a level that’s never been seen before,” he said.
“But the truth be told, I tried a new shirt that was positioned to me as being more breathable and they were right, which means less material.” He admitted skipping an undershirt was a mistake—one he regretted mid-game.
Sweating, it turns out, is just part of his routine. He confessed it happens every game. However, he looks like he is sweating a river in the picture simply because of his shirt’s thin fabric. But the viral moment paid off. Companies flooded him with free undershirts and replacements.
“I will tell you, I have received boxes,” Miller shared, even joking about landing “major league endorsement opportunities.” Fast forward to 2025. Miller’s now at Texas, hired after Xavier knocked out the Longhorns in the First Four. His shirts held up during the Kennesaw game, but the meme resurfaced.
Miller has led teams to multiple Elite Eight runs, first at Xavier, then Arizona, and again at Xavier before Texas called. His playing days at Pitt honed his game IQ, earning praise from teammates like Darrelle Porter.
KEEP READING: Grading the Hire: Sean Miller Set To Be Texas’ Next Head Coach
His podcast dives into his coaching life off the court, offering fans a closer look. Yet, that drenched shirt from 2016 keeps the internet busy with his name, proving some moments stick, no matter how much you try to dry them off.
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