Pitino files suit against Adidas

The FBI isn’t the only one going after Adidas for its part in the corruption of college basketball.

Former Louisville coach Rick Pitino filed a pair of lawsuits against the shoe company Tuesday, according to ESPN.

Pitino continues to deny that he had any knowledge of Adidas or members of his coaching staff conspiring to pay recruits to come to Louisville. The university had put him on unpaid leave, but fired him with cause Monday. The Hall of Fame coach’s response was to sue the shoe company, blaming its malfeasance for his unemployment.

“I had no part — active, passive, or through willful ignorance — in the conspiracy described in the complaint,” Pitino said in an affidavit submitted to Louisville’s board in a meeting on Monday to discuss his firing. “I had no reason to know about the conspiracy described in the complaint, and no reason to know about the complicity of any UL assistant coach or staff member in any bribery conspiracy. I never have had any part — active, passive, or through willful ignorance — in any effort, successful or unsuccessful, completed or abandoned, to pay any recruit, or any family member of a recruit, or anyone else on a recruit’s behalf, as an inducement to attend UL.”

Adidas released a statement following the filing of the lawsuit.

“Mr. Pitino’s lawsuit is clearly a reaction to his termination yesterday and is without merit,” the statement said, according to ESPN.

The FBI’s investigation into the sport led to 10 arrests, including assistant coaches at four other universities. No one from Louisville was arrested, but the Cardinals coaching staff allegedly paid a top prospect, believed to be five-star freshman Brian Bowen, $100,000 to commit to the school. They also funneled $150,000 to a 2019 prospect, according to records.