Report: Pitino funneled Adidas’ cash to top recruit
Meet Coach-2. Louisville coach Rick Pitino, who was put on administrative leave Wednesday amid a bombshell corruption scandal within college basketball, has been identified as “Coach-2” for his role in funneling money to the family of a top recruit for the player’s commitment, according to CBS News.
Pitino “vehemently” denied the report to ESPN’s Dick Vitale.
In court records, ex-mega-agent Christian Dawkins told authorities that he had “spoken with Coach-2 about getting additional money for Player-10’s family” but that Pitino, aka Coach-2, had to get in touch with Jim Gatto, director of global marketing for Adidas basketball.
Gatto allegedly funneled $100,000 of Adidas’ money to the family of Player-10, believed to be Louisville freshman Brian Bowen, for the talented prospect’s commitment to the Cardinals. Louisville, which has a lucrative shoe and apparel contract with Adidas, got Brown’s commitment shortly after agreeing to its deal with Adidas in early June.
The court records also allege Gatto, who was busted Tuesday, “spoke directly” with Pitino days before and on the day the five-star prospect committed.
Additionally, the criminal complaint states that Jonathan Brad Augustine, an AAU coach whose team is sponsored by Adidas, along with Dawkins, spoke to an undercover agent about Pitino’s pull within Adidas.
“No one swings a bigger d--k than [Coach-2],” Au- gustine allegedly said, after Gatto had trouble getting the funds to Bowen’s family. He added that “all [Coach-2] has to do is pick up the phone and call somebody [and say], ‘These are my guys; they’re taking care of us.’”
Interim Louisville president Greg Postel said one Cardinals player has been suspended. According to ESPN, that player is Bowen, who was ranked No. 19 in the 2017 recruiting class by the 247Sports composite list.
Four assistant coaches from other programs were charged Tuesday as part of the FBI’s investigation. Oklahoma State assistant Lamont Evans was terminated with cause Thursday, the Oklahoman reported. The other three have all been suspended or placed on administrative leave.