Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller will lose $1 million of his $4.1 million longevity fund if he is criminally charged or found guilty of a Level 1 NCAA violation, according to contract language subject to approval by the Arizona Board of Regents this week.
The regents will also consider adding a provision detailing Miller’s obligations as a “responsible employee” under Title IX, which includes reporting requirements, cooperation with Title IX investigations and participation in Title IX trainings. In 2016, Arizona issued a finding of sexual misconduct by former Arizona player Elliott Pitts after a Title IX investigation.
The regents are scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday on campus at the UA.
Miller would lose all of his longevity fund shares if he is fired for cause. The new provision means he can also be penalized financially if he remains on the job and if he is criminally charged or found guilty of a Level 1 NCAA violation.
A Level 1 violation involves what the NCAA calls a “severe breach of contract” and is the most serious of four levels of violations. Examples of Level 1 violations include lack of institutional control, academic fraud, failure to cooperate in an NCAA enforcement investigation, and unethical or dishonest conduct.
Miller became fully vested in 175,000 shares of Western Refining Logistics stock on May 31, 2017, and is been scheduled to receive those shares on May 31, 2020. He can receive another 50,000 shares in May 2022 if he stays until June 2020.
The proposed contract amendment says the shares have been converted at a rate of 0.5233 to Andeavor Logistics LP, a Delaware Master Limited Partnership.
Andeavor Logistics closed at 45.00 per share on Tuesday, meaning Miller’s converted pool of 91,577.5 shares is currently worth $4.12 million. The additional shares he could earn if he stays through 2020 would be worth another $1.18 million.
Miller earned an estimated total of $2.795 million in 2017-18, not counting the vesting credit toward the additional longevity fund shares. He is under contract through 2021-22.
The UA is paying Miller a base salary of $1.5 million plus $700,000 for peripheral duties such as his radio show and at least $120,000 in performance bonuses. Nike and IMG each pay Miller about $200,000 annually.
A federal investigation into college basketball resulted in the Sept. 26 arrest of former UA assistant coach Book Richardson on federal fraud and bribery charges, while a Feb. 23 ESPN story said Miller allegedly discussed paying $100,000 to secure a recruit.
Miller did not coach against Oregon on Feb. 24 and sat out for four more days while UA officials said they asked him “direct and pointed questions” about the allegations. The UA announced March 1 that Miller would remain as coach. He ran the team for the Wildcats’ final six games of the season.
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- Departing UA center Dusan Ristic has accepted an invitation to play in the seniors-only Portsmouth Invitational pre-draft tournament from April 11-14. UA guard Kadeem Allen stood out in the event last spring, then was invited to the NBA Combine and was eventually drafted No. 53 overall by the Boston Celtics. Other Pac-12 players scheduled to attend include UCLA’s Thomas Welsh, ASU’s Shannon Evans, Colorado’s George King and Cal’s Marcus Lee.
- Arizona fell out of the final USA Today coaches Top 25 poll Monday after finishing its season at 27-8 with a loss to Buffalo in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats were a preseason No. 5 pick in the coaches poll and entered the tournament at No. 15.
The Associated Press Top 25 poll is not conducted after the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats were ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP poll and No. 12 entering the NCAA Tournament.
- Oregon freshman Troy Brown announced on Twitter that he is leaving for the NBA draft.
