Pitino files lawsuit against Louisville’s athletic association
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rick Pitino suing the University of Louisville Athletic Association on Thursday for $38.7 million, saying it breached his contract by placing him on unpaid administrative leave without notice and firing him last month with no legally justified “cause.”
The ULAA fired the Hall of Fame coach Oct. 16, weeks after he was placed on leave when Louisville acknowledged it was being investigated in a federal bribery probe of college basketball. Pitino is not named in the federal complaint and has denied participation in and knowledge of alleged payments to a recruit’s family.
Pitino’s lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court seeks liquidated contract damages of $4.307 million through 2026. It says the ULAA did not give him 10 days advance notice before it “effectively fired” him and insists that he followed suggestions to improve oversight after a sex scandal that has resulted in NCAA sanctions.
Pitino’s attorney, Steve Pence, said in a statement that the coach diligently supervised his staff and stressed compliance with NCAA rules.
Ten people were initially charged in the investigation on Sept. 26. The next day, Louisville interim president Greg Postel placed Pitino on unpaid leave and athletic director Tom Jurich on paid administrative leave. Trustees fired Jurich by 10-3 vote on Oct. 18. defending champion Steve Johnson in the singles draw.
Six-time doubles champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan will compete in the U.S. Clay Court for the 16th time. In other news: • The French Tennis Federation announced that Yannick Noah will stay on as captain for the Davis Cup defense next year. France recently won its 10th Davis Cup, defeating Belgium 3-2 at Lille, France.
• Novak Djokovic is adding former top-10 player Radek Stepanek as a coach. What was not immediately clear was how Stepanek and Andre Agassi, who began working with Djokovic on a part-time basis at the French Open in May, will divide their coaching duties. Djokovic split from longtime coach Marian Vajda shortly before bringing aboard Agassi and stopped working with Boris Becker a year ago. Djokovic has not competed since a loss at Wimbledon in July, citing a right elbow injury.