Arizona Board of Regents to Decide on Potential $1M Sean Miller Penalty

The Arizona Board of Regents will vote on amended contract language for head basketball coach Sean Miller this week that could result in a $1 million penalty if he is found guilty of a major NCAA infraction or charged with a crime, according to the Arizona Republic's Anne Ryman. 

Miller's contract already included language that allows the University of Arizona to recoup bonuses and up to $300,000 if he's found guilty of commiting "major or repetitive" NCAA violations. The head coach has provisionally agreed to the potential penalty.

"With this contract addition, Coach Miller has demonstrated his commitment to a program that follows the rules and the university has made it clear that it expects no less," school spokesman Tony Proudfoot told Ryman. 

The proposed amendment follows a turbulent season that saw the Wildcats get enveloped in controversies as part of the FBI's years-long investigation into corruption and bribery in college basketball. 

In September, former Arizona assistant coach Emmanuel "Book" Richardson was among those charged in the first wave of FBI arrests. He has since since been indicted on conspiracy to commit bribery, solicitation of bribes and gratuities by an agent of a federally funded organization, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, wire fraud and Travel Act conspiracy. 

According to Ryman, the federal indictment alleges Richardson accepted bribes from Christian Dawkins, an associate of sports agent Andy Miller, to steer players at Arizona to specific agents and financial managers. 

Five months later, ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach reported Miller was overheard on an FBI wiretap discussing a possible $100,000 payment with Dawkins that would "ensure" Deandre Ayton's commitment to the Wildcats. 

Miller has since denied any wrongdoing. 

"I have never knowingly violated NCAA rules while serving as head coach of this great program," Miller said, per USA Today's Tom Schad. "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 a prospect or their family or representative, and I never will."