NCAA sends Louisville notice of allegations
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Louisville men's basketball program has been served with an NCAA notice of allegations in connection with the FBI'S bombshell 2017 investigation into college basketball recruiting.
Louisville officials are reviewing the documents, the school said in a statement Monday, and will send a response to the NCAA within 90 days. One levelone violation is included in the notice of allegations, along with three level-two violations.
In a statement online confirming the school had received the notice, Louisville officials said the university will cooperate with the investigation, but President Neeli Bendapudi also said officials "will not hesitate to push back” if necessary. The statement pointed out that all alleged infractions occurred under administrators, staff members and coaches who were no longer at the university.
In a separate statement, current coach Chris Mack said he's seen "incredible changes" take place at the university under Bendapudi and athletics director Vince Tyra since his hiring, and that he expects the school to mount a significant defense against the charges.
"While I understand the allegations brought today, I am confident that the University will do what is right, which includes fighting back on those charges that we simply do not agree with, and for which the facts do not substantiate," Mack said. "The future is bright for Cardinal Basketball. Our focus will continue to be on our tremendous studentathletes.”
The memo outlines accusations against Louisville for its role in the scandal. The program was ensnared in September 2017, when the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York unsealed indictments relating to alleged bribery and fraud in college basketball recruiting.
Louisville signee Brian Bowen II was immediately suspended by the school after the indictment alleged Adidas executives and others attempted to funnel money to Bowen's family. Longtime athletic director Tom Jurich and men's basketball coach Rick Pitino, both of whom denied involvement with or knowledge of the alleged deal, were fired in the weeks following the news, along with assistant coaches Kenny Johnson and Jordan Fair.
No Louisville players, coaches or university employees were arrested or indicted, but Fair and Johnson were mentioned in the complaint, and Bowen's father at one point testified that Johnson gave him $1,300 in cash for rent to stay at Louisville's Galt House Hotel.
Former Adidas executive James Gatto, former Adidas consultant Merl Code and sports business manager Christian Dawkins were found guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the case.
Kansas, N.C. State, USC and Oklahoma State have also received notices of allegations in connection with the investigation.
Louisville is still on probation for the 2015 escort scandal, which forced the school to vacate 123 wins, including the 2013 national championship, and pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in shared revenue. That is separate from the recruiting violations that led to the most recent notice of allegations. The 2015 incidents caused Louisville to selfimpose a one-year postseason ban and take part in scholarship reductions and recruiting restrictions.
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