UA President Robert Robbins speaks during a press conference after an Arizona Board of Regents executive session regarding Sean Miller on Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Phoenix.
While defiantly denouncing an ESPN report that he discussed paying a player, Sean Miller said he is turning his attention back to being Arizona’s basketball coach following five days away from the team.
Miller is expected to coach Thursday night and the rest of the season, UA president Robert C. Robbins said following Thursday's Arizona Board of Regents meeting in Phoenix. However, Miller was not present at the Wildcats' afternoon shootaround in McKale Center. The 19th-ranked UA faces Stanford at 8 p.m.
Robbins said he and athletic director Dave Heeke have no reason to believe Miller broke any rules.
"Coach Miller is our coach, he has a contract and we'll be moving forward," Robbins said.
In a news conference earlier Thursday, Miller said he has done nothing wrong and was "sickened that we are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons." ESPN reported last Friday that Miller allegedly discussed paying Deandre Ayton $100,000 with agent Christian Dawkins, but Miller said the conversation never happened.
"I have never knowingly violated NCAA rules while serving as head coach of this great program," Miller said. "I have never paid a recruit or prospect or their family or representative to come to Arizona. I never have and I never will. I have never arranged or directed payment or any improper benefits to a recruit or prospect or their family or representative and I never will."
ESPN issued a statement on its correction page Thursday saying additional reporting found it was correct in saying the phone conversation happened between them in 2017, even as it had previously corrected it from 2017 to 2016.
"ESPN stands by the reporting of the story on SportsCenter and ESPN digital media," it said in a post dated Thursday afternoon.
Miller said he was once approached about paying a player to attend UA and that he did not agree to it, but he declined to provide further details.
No questions were allowed after Miller made his five-minute statement, but Miller specifically denied speaking with Dawkins and said ESPN's correction of the timeline over the call — from 2017 to 2016 — still left an incorrect story.
"I also understand that there is an ongoing federal investigation and because of this I cannot do anything that might compromise the integrity of this investigation," Miller said. "However on this point I cannot remain silent in light of media reports that have impugned the reputation of me, the university and sullied the reputation of a tremendous young man, Deandre Ayton. …
"I have never discussed with Christian Dawkins paying Deandre Ayton to attend the University of Arizona. In fact, I never even met or spoke to Christian Dawkins until after Deandre publicly announced that he was coming to our school. Any reporting to the contrary is inaccurate, false and defamatory.
"I’m outraged by the media statements that have been made and the acceptance by many that these statements were true. There was no such conversation. These statements have damaged me, my family, the university, Deandre Ayton and his incredible family. The only attempted corrections by the original source of the media statements are still inaccurate and completely false."
Miller said he looks forward to coaching the team as it seeks a Pac-12 championship. Associate head coach Lorenzo Romar led the Wildcats at Oregon on Saturday and during three practices this week.
"We do our very best to run a clean program at the University of Arizona," he said. "I have done that since the first day I stepped on this campus."
Here is the transcript of Miller's entire statement:
"Let me begin by saying I regret all the negative attention that has been focused on our program and the difficult position that this has created for (UA) President Robbins, (athletic director) Dave Heeke, the Arizona family and especially our players and their families.
"I appreciate all the support I have received during this difficult time. Thank you to everybody. While I have done nothing wrong, I am responsible for our men’s basketball program and I am sickened that we are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
"Contrary to what has been written this past week, we do our very best to run a clean program at the University of Arizona. I have done that since the first day I stepped on this campus. Compliance with NCAA rules is extremely important to us and we work hard to create maintain a culture of compliance within our program. I have never knowingly violated NCAA rules while serving as head coach of this great program. I have never paid a recruit or prospect or their family or representative, to come to Arizona. I never have and I never will. I have never arranged or directed payment or any improper benefits to a recruit or prospect or their family or representative and I never will.
"I also understand that there is an ongoing federal investigation and because of this I cannot do anything that might compromise the integrity of this investigation. However, on this point I cannot remain silent in light of media reports that have impugned the reputation of me, the university and sullied the reputation of a tremendous young man, Deandre Ayton, let me be very very clear: I have never discussed with Christian Dawkins paying Deandre Ayton to attend the University of Arizona. In fact, I never even met or spoke to Christian Dawkins until after Deandre publicly announced that he was coming to our school. Any reporting to the contrary is inaccurate false and defamatory. I’m outraged by the media statements that have been made and the acceptance by many that these statements were true. There was no such conversation. These statements have damaged me, my family, the university, Deandre Ayton and his incredible family. The only attempted corrections by the original source of the media statements are still inaccurate and completely false. I also want you to know that the one time someone suggested to me paying a player to come to the University of Arizona I did not agree to it. it never happened. And that player did not come to the University of Arizona. Out of respect for this ongoing investigation, the privacy of the student-athlete and his family, I’m not gonna share further details concerning this matter.
“I appreciate more than anyone can realize Dr. Robbins and the university carefully considering this matter and acting upon facts. I have been completely open and transparent and I look forward to coaching this outstanding team as we seek to capture a Pac-12 regular season championship this week. I now intend to turn my focus to basketball and my players and this team. I once again want to express my thanks to all those who have supported me, and this now completes my statement on this matter."
Sports Illustrated legal analyst Michael McCann looked into the possibility that Miller and/or Ayton could pursue potentially difficult defamation lawsuits.
Robbins said the UA has no plans to sue.