Xavier coach Sean Miller received no sanctions Wednesday after the NCAA’s resolution process cleared him of wrongdoing in the Arizona infractions case that has dragged on for five years.
The Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) released its ruling and cleared Miller and Arizona itself. Miller and Arizona were facing five Level I violations for not promoting “an atmosphere for compliance and monitored his staff within the basketball program.”
“This has been a long journey and I am glad everything is finally finished,” Miller said in a statement. “I am excited to move forward. I’d like to thank my wife Amy and my entire family, President (Colleen M.) Hanycz and (Vice President of Administration and Director of Athletics) Greg Christopher for their support through the completion of this process.”
Miller’s former assistant coaches, Emanuel “Book” Richardson and Mark Phelps, were both sanctioned by the IARP. Richardson was handed a 10-year show cause over three Level I violations and Phelps was issued a two-year show cause.
Miller was let go by Arizona due to the school being charged with five Level I violations in March 2021. The situation erupted in September 2017 when the FBI arrested Richardson while conducting an investigation into corruption in college basketball.
Richardson went to prison after pleading guilty to charges he accepted $20,000 to steer players toward certain financial advisers.
Allegations included Miller paying former Arizona star Deandre Ayton $10,000 per month. Miller denied the charges.
Arizona was ineligible for the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments in Miller’s 12th and final season in 2020-21 due to the school’s self-imposed postseason ban.
Miller went 302-109 with the Wildcats, leading the team to seven NCAA appearances and three trips to the Elite Eight (2011, 2014 and 2015).
The IARP’s decision cannot be appealed.
–Field Level Media
