Mass Exodus — URI Basketball Players Are Fleeing Archie Miller’s Program
Monday, March 20, 2023
Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn and two mega-boosters teamed up to bring Archie Miller to the University of Rhode Island in March of 2022. Just one year later, the program is hitting bottom.
Big Rams boosters Tom Ryan, former CVS CEO, and Michael D. Fascitell, the former president of Vornado Realty Trust, reportedly donated significant sums to make the deal work. In the 1990s, Fascitelli was real estate partners with Donald Trump.
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.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHe came to Rhode Island after being fired at Indiana University. His tenure with the Hoosiers was widely criticized.
Ryan 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.”
Miller's first year at URI was a struggle — the Rams were 9-22 and lost nine of their last ten games.
Mass Exodus
The Rams lost one to graduation — senior Malik Martin leaves, and then four more starters and rotation players have entered the transfer portal — including the top three assist men, the top two scorers, and one of the only big men.
Of the top six scorers, four are departing, and one of the returning players is Josaphat Bilau, who is coming off an injury and only played eight games last year.
The leading returning scorer Jalen Carey averaged 9.9 points a game. He will be a redshirt senior next season.
One of the potential bright spots is Alabama transfer Alex Tchikou. He is a native of Paris, France, who joined Alabama as the No. 65 player in the 2020 class, according to the 247SportsComposite rankings.
He is a 6-foot-11, 230-pound forward who missed his first season with the Crimson Tide after rupturing his Achilles tendon. In his second season, he appeared in just three games.
Freshmen coming to URI next year are 6’4” Connor Dubsky and 6’3” Cam Estevez.
Key Provisions in Contract
The following are from Miller's contract at URI.
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.
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