Regents approve contract amendment for UA coach Sean Miller

The Arizona Board of Regents approved to amend the contract of University of Arizona head basketball coach Sean Miller on Friday, forcing him to pay $1 million if he commits a major NCAA violation or is criminally charged, according to the Arizona Daily Star’s Bruce Pascoe.

It also requires that he comply with Title IX reporting requirements, investigations and training.

All other terms of Miller’s contract will remain the same with the revision.

Miller currently makes a base salary of $1.5 million, with a $100,000 annual increase from July 2018 through July 2020. He also earns an additional $700,000 per year for radio, television and speaking engagements, as well as $400,000 in endorsement deals with both Nike and sports, entertainment and media company, IMG.

Additionally, Miller has the ability to earn more bonuses depending on the amount of wins in a season as well as the players’ grade point average.

Should the university have to enact the new revisions to the contract, the $1 million would come out of a “longevity bonus” in the stock, Andeavor Logistics LP, that was set up for Miller by a private donor in 2014. Miller is due to be paid the bonus in 2020, which is currently worth $4.1 million.

The amended terms to Miller’s contract comes after a season of turmoil for the Arizona basketball program.

In September, assistant coach Emanuel “Book” Richardson was indicted on charges of bribery and fraud as part of an FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball.

Richardson had been with the program since 2009. His chief responsibility was recruiting.

Miller was the subject of a February report by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, whose sources confirmed that Miller had allegedly been heard on FBI wiretaps discussing a $100,000 payment to ensure the commitment from former Wildcats freshman center Deandre Ayton.

The wiretaps allegedly intercepted conversations between Miller and Christian Dawkins, a runner working for ASM Sports agent Andy Miller.

According to the report, multiple conversations included Dawkins asking Miller if he should facilitate a finalized agreement through Richardson.

Six days later, Miller held a press conference denying the allegations, calling them “inaccurate and completely false.”

An emergency meeting was held by the Arizona Board of Regents and University of Arizona president Robert Robbins and athletic director Dave Heeke, who came out in support of Miller. At the time, Robbins suggested the parties had discussed amendments to Miller’s contract “that would be enacted if there are any further things that come out during any investigation about violations of NCAA rules.”

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