It’s been a rough 24 hours for the University of Arizona men’s basketball program, and it might get a lot worse.
Late Friday night, Yahoo! Sports reported that Wildcats head coach Sean Miller had been caught on an FBI wiretap arranging a $100,00 payment to ensure that star freshman Deandre Ayton would attend the school.
While Miller won’t coach Saturday against Oregon, the threat of possible NCAA discipline against the program has the school likely thinking about parting ways with Miller.
But that would cost them.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell reported Saturday that a clause in Miller’s contract states that the school will owe Miller more if they fire him with cause than if they fired him for no reason at all.
That’s certainly a sticky situation for Arizona.
USA TODAY noted that if Miller is fired it will create a potentially wild legal battle due to the language, or lack thereof, in Miller’s contract.
While the contract does state that Miller will be paid the $10.3 million if fired with cause, it also states that the amounts “shall be payable to Coach consistent with University and state rules and regulations,” and states that work must be done in exchange for the pay, per USA TODAY.
USA TODAY also notes that Miller could argue he is due all of the compensation remaining in the deal, but Arizona could counter by arguing he is only due pay through his termination date, which would be set after a lengthy court process.
The contract also notes that should Miller commit any NCAA or Pac-12 violations, that he would need to pay back all bonus money that he accrued throughout the contract. He also is liable to the university for up to $300,000 in damages if his violations cost the university money, such as the forfeiture of NCAA tournament money or any other costs the university would endure due to Miller’s actions.
