Louisville plans to fire Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino — a day after the FBI revealed possible corruption charges involving Louisville. Athletic director Tom Jurich will also be fired; Jurich has been at the school since 1997.
Rick Pitino has been fired by Louisville, according to reports.
Details ➡️ https://t.co/1sCOrS2Vzk pic.twitter.com/6DcXSf1QZI
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 27, 2017
Pitino has been at the school since the 2001-02 season. Over 16 seasons with the Cardinals, Pitino guided the program 416 wins; Louisville won nearly 75 percent of the games Pitino coached.
The highlight was the team’s 2013 NCAA Championship — a six-point victory over Michigan.
However, the last several years have been filled with scandal. In fact, Rick Pitino was hit with a five-game suspension back in June in connection to the program’s escort scandal. There is a chance the program could be stripped of that 2013 title, too.
That all seems relatively trivial now, though, as Louisville is in the FBI’s crosshairs for the recruitment of 5-star freshman Brian Bowen. The FBI alleges that Bowen (and/or his family), through adidas, accepted nearly $100,000 to attend Louisville.
Around 11 a.m., Pitino met briefly and behind closed doors with interim president Greg Postel. After that, the school announced a 1 p.m. press conference.
No comment from Rick Pitino as he left his meeting with interim Louisville president Greg Postel. Appeared misty-eyed. pic.twitter.com/Iag7E9ME5T
— Jeff Greer (@jeffgreer_cj) September 27, 2017
Kent Taylor of WAVE-TV reported that Jurich was asked to fire Rick Pitino; Jurich, however, refused to do so.
According to sources, Tom Jurich was asked to fire Rick Pitino, refused, both were fired
— Kent Taylor (@KentTaylorWAVE) September 27, 2017
This concludes a very profitable and successful — yet deeply problematic — era for Louisville athletics.
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