In-Depth Look at URI Basketball Coach Miller’s Multimillion-Dollar State Contract
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
New University of Rhode Island (URI) Men's Basketball Coach Ryan “Archie” Miller is set to receive payments in excess of $2 million a year in the third, fourth and fifth year of his new state contract.
This is a record contract and in the later years of the agreement, Miller will earn more than three times the amount recently-fired coach David Cox could earn with incentives, including winning the National Championship.
Miller, who was fired from Indiana University just a year ago, was heavily criticized during his tenure.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRyan Corazza of Inside the Hall wrote about Miller’s departure from Indiana, “COVID-19 complications didn’t help, but the fact remains that Miller never made the NCAA tournament in four seasons as head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers."
"He never finished above .500 in conference play. His teams could never get out of their own way, couldn’t get over the hump, couldn’t find a steady win streak to ride. It was all fits and starts and stops, and that eventually falls at the hands of the program’s leader. While his schemes and style were clear, they didn’t amount to enough success," Corazza continued. "Miller also seemed disinterested in the other facets of the Indiana basketball job: things like fan engagement or connecting to and growing the Indiana basketball legacy. The program lacked a modern social media approach and operated in a closed-off fashion.”
The Indiana University's student newspaper was equally critical of Miller's tenure.
In a column in the paper, one columnist wrote, "This spring, the tournament came to our home state, where fans vacillate between thrilled and irate. Ankles were twisted and noses were smashed, and IU’s postseason hopes once more were dashed. In 49 others, it’s merely a sport. In Indiana, nothing’s of greater import. Thus, I see why folks were all out of sorts when the Hoosiers couldn’t even play on their home court. All of the star-studded in-state recruiting couldn’t make up for their god-awful shooting. March 15, thanks to two hefty donations, Miller was exiled from the Hoosier nation. Miller was fired, though none of us cried for his $10.53 million goodbye. Full rides are godsends for kids who need aid, but the school has some coaches who need to get paid."
Inside the Contract
Through an Access to Public Records Act request, GoLocal secured a copy of the State of Rhode Island’s contract with Miller — an agreement that is by far the richest in Rhode Island men’s basketball history.
The 13-page contract, withheld by URI officials until after Miller’s press conference, unveils big salaries, big bonuses, and a dozen incentives. The contract starts high and ramps up after the first two years.
Miller has free reign over his staff of three and can carve up $765,000 as he sees fit, according to the state contract.
"The Coach shall have the right to select, manage, terminate and retain three (3) full-time assistant men’s basketball coaches and three (3) other full-time staff members, who shall be paid on the bi-weekly payroll subject to the same payroll deductions and the same benefits that apply to the University’s non-academic administrative employees. A salary pool of $765,000.00 (Seven Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars) will be used for the salaries for these positions," states the state contract.
The only way URI can fire him is for "cause." He can quit but would bypass the so-called "retention bonus."
There are also thousands in car allowances and country club memberships. There are VIP tickets that do not limit their resale at a profit. Miller receives a relocation package that totals $40,000.
In contrast, a full professor at URI earns just over $110,000, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. And, a lecturer, earns less than half of a full professor.
Retention Bonus
In each of the first two Contract Years, the Coach shall receive, in addition to his Base Salary, the sum of $750,000.00 (Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand and no/100 Dollars) as a guaranteed portion of the gate receipts for all home games administered by the University’s Athletic Department.
In the third, fourth, and fifth Contract Years, the Coach shall receive, in addition to his Base Salary, the sum of $1,000,000.00 (One Million and no/100 Dollars) as a guaranteed portion of the gate receipts for all home games administered by the University’s Athletic Department. Said amounts shall be paid in equal installments on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 15 of each Contract Year (for purposes of this Section 3.2.1, the “Payment Schedule”). The first such payment shall be on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, 2022. If consistent with University policies and procedures, this Payment Schedule may be modified by future written agreement between the parties.
Base Salary -- 3 Times RI Governor's Salary
An annualized base salary of $400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars) (the “Base Salary”) payable in bi-weekly installments during the Term of this Agreement. It is agreed that the Base Salary shall be eligible for the same salary increases and subject to the same criteria that apply to the University’s non-academic administrative employees.
It is further agreed that the compensation paid in accordance with this Section 3.1.1 shall be subject to the same payroll deductions (for example, state and federal taxes, F.I.C.A. withholding, and employee contributions to the retirement plan and health care plan) that apply to the University’s non-academic administrative employees.
Pension Plan and More -- Miller Gets Best Benefits of Working for URI
An annual contribution to the University’s retirement plan in accordance with the University’s personnel policies pertaining to all non-academic administrative personnel. The Coach shall also be eligible to participate in group insurance, and retirement programs and voluntary payroll deduction programs, and disability insurance, on the same basis, and with the same employer contributions (if applicable), that apply to the University’s comparable non-academic administrative employees. It is agreed that only the Coach’s Base Salary shall apply for the purposes of this section and not the additional salary, benefits, bonuses, or other compensation referred to in this Agreement.
Big Bite of Gate Receipts
In each of the first two Contract Years, the Coach shall receive, in addition to his Base Salary, the sum of $750,000.00 (Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand and no/100 Dollars) as a guaranteed portion of the gate receipts for all home games administered by the University’s Athletic Department. In the third, fourth, and fifth Contract Years, the Coach shall receive, in addition to his Base Salary, the sum of $1,000,000.00 (One Million and no/100 Dollars) as a guaranteed portion of the gate receipts for all home games administered by the University’s Athletic Department.
Said amounts shall be paid in equal installments on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 15 of each Contract Year (for purposes of this Section 3.2.1, the “Payment Schedule”). The first such payment shall be on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, 2022. If consistent with University policies and procedures, this Payment Schedule may be modified by future written agreement between the parties.
Annual Appearance Fee Jumps from $200,000 a Year to $450,000 a Year
In each of the first two Contract Years, the Coach shall receive, in addition to his Base Salary, the sum of $200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars) for his appearance and participation in Athletic events and functions reasonably scheduled and approved by the Director of Athletics.
In the third, fourth, and fifth Contract Years, the Coach shall receive, in addition to his Base Salary, the sum of $450,000.00 (Four Hundred Fifty Thousand and no/100 Dollars) for his appearance and participation in Athletic events and functions reasonably scheduled and approved by the Director of Athletics. Said amounts shall be paid in equal installments on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 15 of each Contract Year (for purposes of this Section 3.2.2, the “Payment Schedule”). The first such payment shall be on the pay date closest to but not after July 15, 2022. If consistent with University policies and procedures, this Payment Schedule may be modified by future written agreement between the parties.
There are dozens of other incentives layered in the agreement. If Miller were to hit all the incentives for performance, his contract could hit $2.5 million in total compensation in two of the five contract years.
Also, note Miller received a $10.3 million buyout at Indiana -- the 15th-richest in NCAA men's basketball -- after he was fired in March of 2021.
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