Travis Steele, who spent the past four seasons coaching Xavier University, is the new Miami University men’s basketball coach, Miami announced Thursday.

Steele and Xavier agreed to a mutual separation two weeks ago as the school was midway through the NIT Tournament. The Musketeers went on to win the NIT championship.  Steele’s overall record at Xavier was 70-50.

“Travis Steele brings with him an exceptional recruiting pedigree and results,” Miami Athletic Director David Sayler said as he introduced Steele at a press conference in Oxford Friday afternoon.

“I want the players to know that I am here for them,” Steele said. He stressed that player development on the practice court and recruiting would be his two top priorities. He noted that Miami, despite recent losing seasons, has the highest basketball winning percentage in the history of the Mid-American Conference. 

“It’s time to get back to that tradition,” he said. 

Steele noted that his brother, John, is basketball coach for the University of Akron, “which is now my second-favorite team in the MAC.”

Sayler said he was impressed with Steele’s CEO-like-vision for where Miami Basketball can and should go.” 

Steele succeeds Jack Owens, who was let go  March 23, after  one winning season in five years and an overall 70-83 record.