Sean Miller has miraculously been able to survive his involvement in the college basketball corruption scandal, but he may not be able to keep his job with Arizona for too much longer.
Tim Montemayor, a host at 1580 The Fanatic in Arizona, reported on Thursday about Miller’s standing within the Arizona athletic department. According to Montemayor (Monty), Miller has been forthcoming with the Arizona athletic department about his lack of oversight and relationship with Christian Dawkins, with whom he was caught on wiretap allegedly discussing payments to a player.
I am told Miller has been forthcoming with Administration from day 1, Miller never denied the existence of a Dawkins relationship to Administration, he has owned his lack of oversight of the department, which is the biggest concern University official have re; NCAA Sanctions.
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) May 10, 2019
Monty says Miller’s demeanor with the media has been a source of frustration for the athletic department, and that the coach telling a reporter in February to “drive back to Phoenix” did not sit well with them.
…simple "I can't comment on the investigation" and move on. HIs media sessions this past season were point of great stress for the Administration, to the point where there was consideration given to not holding his weekly presser.
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) May 10, 2019
Most significantly, Monty says Miller would likely lose his job if the program receives sanctions from the NCAA, or if wiretap information were released.
I am told University of Arizona, at least at this time, does not have plans to terminate Sean Miller, they also expect significant sanction from the NCAA in late summer or early fall, and I am told Miller would not be able to survive that, or the release of wiretaps information.
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) May 10, 2019
Back in Feb. 2018, a report said Miller was caught on wiretap discussing with Dawkins a $100,000 payment to recruit Deandre Ayton, who played one year at Arizona before leaving for the NBA Draft. Miller denied that was the case, and confusion was added to the situation when there was information suggesting ESPN may have gotten the player in question wrong. Dawkins this week confirmed that he never talked about Ayton with Miller.
Though he has maintained his job at Arizona, things are not going swimmingly. Arizona went 17-15 last season, Miller’s worst record since the first year he took over the program. Additionally, the allegations led to top recruits declining to join the program.
