MARION COUNTY, Ind. (WOWO): Butler University will begin basketball practice this weekend without its coach. 

An email from Butler Athletic Director Barry Collier said that mien’s head coach Brandon Miller asked for a leave of absence for medical reasons, and that he could not elaborate further. Collier also asked that reporters and the public respect Miller's privacy.

Butler struggled in its first season under Miller and first year in the Big East conference, going 14-17 overall, and finishing next-to-last in the league with a 4-14 conference record. Miller is 35 and replaced Brad Stevens, who led the Bulldogs to five NCAA tournaments in six years, including back-to-back national runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2011 before leaving for the Boston Celtics.

Collier says Chris Holtmann will be Butler's interim head coach. Holtmann joined Miller's staff as an assistant coach last year after serving as head coach for three years at Gardner-Webb in North Carolina. No timetable was given for Miller‘s return.