Sean Miller to coach Thursday vs. Stanford — and the rest of the season, UA confirms

It’s official. Miller will return to the sideline Thursday.

A few hours after Sean Miller held a press conference to strongly deny the ESPN wiretap report and say he is looking forward to coaching the Arizona Wildcats again, University of Arizona president Robert C. Robbins confirmed that Miller will return to the sideline Thursday vs. Stanford — and will remain there for the rest of the season.

Miller stepped away from the team prior to Saturday’s game at Oregon after ESPN alleged wiretaps have him discussing a $100,000 payment with former ASM employee Christian Dawkins to secure the signing of Deandre Ayton.

Miller said he has never knowingly broken NCAA rules — and never will — and Robbins supported that claim after Thursday afternoon’s Arizona Board of Regents meeting in Phoenix.

“I believe that if the FBI had evidence that Coach Miller had done anything wrong, that you would have seen him indicted,” Robbins told reporters.

ABOR Chair Bill Ridenour fully supports Robbins’ decision.

“I am confident he has been thorough in his assessment of this situation,” Ridenour said in a statement. “I also appreciate Coach Miller’s forthright statement to the press today. As the governing body of Arizona’s public universities, ABOR is committed to doing everything possible to uphold the integrity of the institutions we oversee.

“This pledge extends to collegiate athletic programs, which must adhere to the high standards established by each university. Basketball is a beloved sport at the University of Arizona and throughout Arizona. The integrity of our institutions cannot be compromised. As a Wildcat, the excellence of the University of Arizona, our student athletes and the success of future generations of students is deeply important to me. The board will remain in close contact with Dr. Robbins as this process continues.”

Arizona and Stanford tip-off at 8 p.m. on Thursday in McKale Center. The Wildcats can clinch a share of the Pac-12 title with a victory.

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Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at @RKelapire

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