IU basketball coach Archie Miller fired: Here's what we know about his abrupt exit

On Monday, Indiana University fired Archie Miller, its men's basketball coach, after four mediocre seasons and after the Hoosiers missed the 2021 NCAA men’s Division I basketball tournament, which was being held in Indianapolis this year.

The decision wasn't unexpected, but Miller's demise was still swift.

Here's what we know about Miller's firing, including why it happened, what he will be paid and who may follow in his footsteps.

Archie Miller fired after 4 middling seasons

After four years spent struggling to break into the top half of the Big Ten, IU has fired men’s basketball coach Archie Miller.

"I have spent a great deal of time evaluating our recruiting, student-athlete development, leadership development, and playing philosophy and strategy," IU AD Scott Dolson said in a news release announcing Miller's firing. "That review, combined with the on-court results, ultimately led me to conclude that a change in leadership of our program is warranted at this time."

What happened:Indiana basketball fires coach Archie Miller after four middling seasons

Not once in Miller’s past two seasons in charge did Indiana win more than two games consecutively in league play.

Miller finishes his IU career with a 67-58 record. He went 33-44 in Big Ten play. 

A by-the-numbers breakdown of Indiana tenure of Archie Miller

Miller's four uninspiring seasons in Bloomington include no appearances in March Madness. And a dismal record against archrival Purdue.

Take a closer look at Miller's tenure, by the numbers. Some of these aren't for the faint of heart.

IU basketball fires Archie Miller:A by-the-numbers breakdown of his Indiana tenure

A closer look at Archie Miller's salary and his contract buyout

Archie Miller earned $550,000 a year in base salary, plus another $1 million in deferred compensation.

Miller's $10.3 million buyout is the 15th-richest in NCAA men's basketball, per USA TODAY's coaches salaries database.

According to the terms of his contract, signed upon his hiring in 2017, Archie Miller would be owed 100% of remaining base, deferred and outside, marketing and promotional income, were he to be terminated without cause before March 31, 2022. 

Here's what we know, including mitigation language in Miller's contract that could reduce that number. 

His buyout:Where does Archie Miller's $10 million buyout rank in NCAA Division I men's basketball?

What Gregg Doyel has to say about how IU can move forward

Since firing Bob Knight in 2000, the school has been through four coaches: Mike Davis, Kelvin Sampson, Tom Crean, Archie Miller. Sampson, the one sure thing, was an utter failure because he couldn’t stop cheating, even after leaving Oklahoma to come to IU. He got caught again at IU, he got fired, and 13 years later IU basketball remains a mess.

The question now, IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel asks: Does IU have someone big in mind to replace Miller? Whether it has someone big already lined up, we’ll soon see.

One thing is for sure: IU didn’t fire Archie Miller just so it could repeat its mistakes. A school in a pandemic, devoting more capital than ever to its rising football program, does not spend $10.3 million of someone else’s money to rid itself of one bad gamble. 

Gregg Doyel:No more gambles, IU. Get a sure thing. You know his name.

Who could be the next IU coach?

For the fifth time in 21 years, IU basketball needs a new head coach. 

The program that employed just four men in that job between the end of World War II and the turn of the last century has not recaptured such consistent success since. 

There’s no one clear-cut candidate right now, given the potential gap between expectations and reality. But Indiana will want to hire a heavyweight. Here's a look at some potential coaching candidates for the Hoosiers, such as Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, Virginia coach Tony Bennett and Gonzaga coach Mark Few.

Is this still a top basketball job? This IU coaching search will let us know.

For subscribers:In first year as Indiana AD, Scott Dolson has chance to fix what's been broken for decades

Twitter reaction to Miller firing

After four years leading Indiana, Archie Miller was fired by the school, IU Athletics announced in a release Monday morning. 

Here's what the Twitter verse had to say about it.

Twitter reaction to Archie Miller firing:'Ooo how the tables have turned'

More reaction:'Mind Your Banners' Special: Breaking News - Archie Miller out as head coach

How will the change affect the IU basketball roster? 

Dolson talked with the entire IU roster and with a top recruit, big man Logan Duncomb. No players or Duncomb had immediately declared their intentions.

Trayce Jackson-Davis thanked Miller in an Instagram post.

More:'Let the dust settle.' How firing may affect Indiana's 2021-22 roster 

Dwight Adams is a digital producer on Gannett's Midwest Digital Optimization Team. He can be reached on Twitter @hdwightadams.