FBI investigation devastates Miller
Arizona coach Sean Miller has finally spoken about the federal case involving one of his assistant coaches. Miller issued a statement through the school saying he was devastated by the arrest of assistant coach Emanuel Richardson on bribery charges last week.
Arizona has initiated an independent review and hired outside counsel in the wake and a federal probe involving one of its assistant basketball coaches.
University President Robert C. Robbins also said Tuesday that Miller has not been charged or accused of any misconduct in a case the led to the arrest of Richardson on federal bribery charges.
The school said in a statement that it has retained the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP to conduct the internal review. Paul Charlton, the firm’s managing partner and former U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, will lead the investigation.
The law firm of Jackson Lewis was retained to help the university with the Department of Justice’s investigation and potential NCAA issues in the wake of Richardson’s arrest with nine others last week accused of accepting bribes and paying players.
“Since arriving on campus in June, I have come to understand a great deal about our institution, specifically the incredible students, faculty, staff and supporters who make Arizona unique,” Robbins said in a letter to the community. “But I have also taken heart in the core values that go handin-hand with our daily work. Those values are why I have a responsibility to all of you to discover the truth in this matter, to take action if warranted, and to ensure that our policies and practices related to athletics compliance are among the best in the nation.”
Richardson was arrested on Sept. 26 along with assistant coaches from Oklahoma State, USC and Auburn after a federal probe revealed hundreds of thousands of bribes to influence star athletes’ choice of schools, shoe sponsors, agents and even tailors. An Adidas marketing executive and a maker of custom suits for some of the NBA’s biggest stars also were arrested.
Richardson is accused of accepting $20,000 in bribes and using some of the money to influence at least one unidentified recruit to play at Arizona.
Vince Tyra was named Louisville’s acting athletic director, filling in for Tom Jurich, who is on paid administrative leave as the school addresses its involvement in a federal bribery investigation of men’s basketball recruits.
College basketball referee John Higgins filed a federal lawsuit against Kentucky Sports Radio, accusing it of creating conditions that led to the harassment of him and his family after he worked an NCAA tournament game between Kentucky and North Carolina in March.