Seeking continuity, Louisville stays in house
Pitino assistant hired as interim head coach
Louisville named assistant coach David Padgett as the interim replacement for basketball coach Rick Pitino on Friday, staying in-house to maintain continuity in the wake of a nationwide federal investigation of the sport.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Padgett said at a news conference. “It’s a very tumultuous time.”
University interim president Greg Postel made the announcement, two days after Pitino was placed on unpaid administrative leave after the school acknowledged its involvement in the federal investigation. Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich was placed on paid administrative leave.
Ten people have been arrested in the corruption case, including four college assistant coaches and an Adidas executive. Freshman
Brian Bowen was not named in federal documents, but details in the criminal complaint make it clear investigators were referring to Bowen. Postel also did not single out Bowen but said Wednesday that one student-athlete has been informed he will not practice or play for the university until the investigation is resolved.
Padgett said Bowen is still enrolled at Louisville.
When Padgett was asked how he could not know what was going on, he declined to comment, but said he is taking the interim position for “the team.” After Postel introduced Padgett, the interim president did not take any questions.
“I’m not looking past the next six, eight months,” Padgett said.
Padgett, 32, is coming off his first season as an assistant following two as Louisville’s director of basketball operations. A three-year starting forward with the Cardinals under Pitino, he has worked extensively with frontcourt players.
“My focus right now is on these kids,” said Padgett, who added that he last talked with Pitino on Wednesday. “They’re here to play basketball.”
Pearl dodges questions
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl wanted to talk about his team, the season and anything but the federal investigation that has ensnared his top assistant and engulfed the sport.
Pearl only would say Friday that the alleged behavior leading to the arrest of suspended associate head coach Chuck Person on federal fraud and bribery charges “is unacceptable.”
He steered clear of the topic after that, making it a fairly short news conference.
Pearl said he stood by the university’s initial statement, adding that, “I can’t and I won’t have any further comment.”
But the questions kept coming, and Pearl dodged them all.
He was asked 16 questions during a 10-minute news conference before Auburn’s first preseason practice, and only the last one was unrelated to the investigation. He repeatedly tried to turn the focus back to his team and the opening of practice. All the players on the roster were on the court.
Auburn has been granting full refunds to season ticket holders after selling them out for the fourth consecutive year under Pearl.