The University of Arizona announced Thursday that Sean Miller would remain as its men’s basketball coach despite allegations that he had discussed paying a top recruit $100,000.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe coach Miller violated NCAA rules or any laws,” the university’s president, Robert Robbins, told reporters after a meeting with the Arizona Board of Regents. At the meeting, it was also decided that Miller would coach the team Thursday night against Stanford.

The announcement came on a day of high drama at the university. Hours before the Regents convened an executive session to discuss Miller’s employment, the basketball coach called a news conference on campus at which he read a prepared statement vehemently pushing back against the accusations. He did not take questions.

“I have never knowingly violated NCAA rules while serving as head coach of this great program,” he said. “I have never paid a recruit, prospect or their family to come to Arizona, and I never will.”

Miller, 49, is among several coaches and players who have been linked to a vast federal investigation into recruiting improprieties in college basketball.

— The New York Times