Louisville Places Rick Pitino and AD Tom Jurich on Leave, Pair Will Likely Be Fired

ESPN reports this morning that the University of Louisville has placed head basketball coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich on leave amid the fallout from the college basketball scandal in which four assistant coaches were arrested.

“A final decision on Jurich and Pitino will be made by the trustees no later than their next scheduled meeting on Oct. 18,” reported ESPN. “Steve Pence, Pitino’s attorney, told the Louisville Courier-Journal Wednesday that the coach has been ‘effectively fired.’ According to his contract, Pitino must be given 10 days notice before any firing can be official.”

News outlets across the country reported that Pitino had been fired, but a news conference held by the university clarified that Pitino and Jurich were placed on leave. Most national sports outlets are reporting that Pitino has little chance of keeping his job.

Pitino is no stranger to scandal. According to ESPN:

In 2010, the coach testified in a federal extortion trial involving Karen Sypher, who went to prison after trying to get money and gifts from him in exchange for silence. The married Pitino admitted to having sex with the woman in a closed Louisville restaurant in 2003.

In 2015, the NCAA launched an investigation into a sex-for-pay scandal organized by former Louisville assistant coach Andre McGee that could force the Cardinals to vacate their 2013 national title and dozens of victories. For that, Pitino will be suspended for Louisville’s first five ACC games this season. That all came after the school, hoping to soothe the NCAA and temper the sanctions, self-imposed a 2016 NCAA tournament ban.