HC Archie Miller new contract puts him atop A-10

By: Roberto De La Rosa-Finch – Assistant Online Editor

Dayton men’s basketball head coach Archie Miller has been rewarded for his team’s growing success. Three straight NCAA tournament appearances, compiled with the most wins in a five-year span (115) in Dayton’s basketball school history, earned him a contract extension through the 2023 season. While exact contract figures were not disclosed to the public, it can be concluded that Miller is the highest-paid coach in the Atlantic 10.

“We want him at the top of the A-10…we want to make it so he financially isn’t questioning marginal jobs in some of the larger conferences,” replied University of Dayton’s previous president, Dr. Curran, in late March when contract details were announced.

Dr. Curran noted the increased accomplishments within the men’s basketball program and understood that Miller was the driving force of it. A total of 78 wins notched up within the ongoing NCAA tournament appearance streak and the prosperous Elite Eight run in 2014. Not to mention attracting effective student-athletes, like 2015 transfer guard Chris Cooke and promising young talent like Kostas Antetokounmpo, younger brother to Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo, Darrell Davis, and the late Steve McElvene.

In terms of numbers, we can estimate that the new contract is around $1.8-9 million per year and maybe more. In response to Miller’s salary, Dr. Curran stated that the head basketball coach “is where Shaka was.”

Prior to Texas’ head coach Shaka Smart’s departure from VCU, his salary, during his final year, was reported at $1.8 million. In conjunction with Dayton’s nearly steady increase in Miller’s salary, as shown below, the Beaver Falls, PA native could very well be making $2 million this season due to a new regularity of success.

Vice President and Director of Athletics Neil Sullivan added, “We share a common vision of graduating student-athletes, consistently competing for conference championships and advancing in the NCAA Tournament. I look forward to pursuing those goals together.”

These goals are pursued by not only the basketball programs at the University of Dayton but also by other schools within the Atlantic 10. Although not every A-10 school has had the level of tournament uniformity as the Flyers since 2013, there are a handful of coaches who still earn a decent pay.

Head coaches Chris Mooney (Richmond), Will Wade (VCU), Derek Kellogg (UMass) and Phil Martelli (Saint Joseph) all earn over one million dollars per year. After his increase in 2014, Miller became one of these five coaches but, as of right now, far exceeds any one of their earnings.

“I’ve said many times, I am thankful and honored to be the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Dayton. We can continue to do great things here,” Miller affirmed after the contract was broadcasted.

Hopefully the contract extension will bring more fruitful and winning seasons for men’s Flyers basketball.