Sean Miller defiantly denounced an ESPN report that he discussed paying a player Thursday, and UA officials announced that they have decided he will remain as basketball coach.
In a joint statement issued by the school, UA president Robert Robbins and athletic director Dave Heeke said: "At this time we have no reason to believe that Coach Miller violated NCAA rules or any laws regarding the allegation reported in the media. Additionally, he has a record of compliance with NCAA rules, and he has been cooperative with this process."
Miller will run the team the rest of the season, Robbins said following Thursday's Arizona Board of Regents meeting in Phoenix.
"Coach Miller is our coach, he has a contract and we'll be moving forward," Robbins said.
University of Arizona President Robert Robbins speaks during a press conference after an Arizona Board of Regents executive session regarding Arizona's men's basketball team and head coach Sean Miller on Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Phoenix.
ESPN reported last Friday that Miller discussed paying Deandre Ayton $100,000 with agent Christian Dawkins. Miller said Thursday that the conversation never happened.
"I have never knowingly violated NCAA rules while serving as head coach of this great program," Miller said in a Thursday afternoon news conference. "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."
Miller, 49, said he has done nothing wrong and was "sickened that we are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons."
ESPN corrected its reporting again on Thursday, saying the reported phone conversation between Miller and Dawkins took place in 2017 — even though it had previously corrected the timeline from 2017 to 2016 in reporter Mark Schlabach's story. ESPN said Thursday it "stands by the reporting of the story on SportsCenter and ESPN digital media" and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas told the Star he trusted Schlabach's reporting. Bilas also said it made "no sense at all" that Miller would wait five days before responding to the report. Before Thursday, Miller had issued only a brief statement saying he was confident he'd be vindicated.
Robbins and Heeke met with Miller "at length" earlier this week, they said. The coach was "eager to speak with us and answered every question we asked," they said.
Miller said Thursday that he "never discussed" paying Ayton to come to Arizona.
"In fact, I never even met or spoke to Christian Dawkins until after Deandre publicly announced that he was coming to our school," he said. "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."
Dawkins has been tied to the UA since Sept. 26, when a federal complaint alleged that UA assistant coach Book Richardson took payments totaling $20,000 from Dawkins and financial advisor Munish Sood. Richardson was arrested on federal bribery and fraud charges, and Arizona fired him in January.
Attorneys for Richardson and other coaches implicated in the federal investigation appeared in a pretrial conference Wednesday in New York City. Details are unclear, but the minute entry noted that the court will be sending language for an amended protective order for defendants' attorneys to approve. The amendment to the protective order suggests the judge wants to impose further limits on leaks of information.
Back in Tucson, Miller said he looked forward to coaching the team as it seeks a Pac-12 championship.
"We do our very best to run a clean program at the University of Arizona," Miller said. "I have done that since the first day I stepped on this campus."
Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller grows frustrated with his team in the second half during a game at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Oregon on Feb. 22, 2018. Arizona won 75-65.
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 immediate plans to sue.