Pitino is officially fired at Louisville
Louisville’s Athletic Association has officially fired coach Rick Pitino nearly three weeks after the school acknowledged that its men’s basketball program is being investigated as part of a federal corruption probe.
The association, which oversees Louisville’s sports programs and is composed of trustees, faculty, students and administrators, voted unanimously to oust the longtime Cardinals coach following a board meeting Monday. The ULAA heard from Pitino’s attorney, Steve Pence, who made the case Monday that his client “could not have known” about activities alleged in the federal investigation.
But the association was not swayed.
“We listened carefully,” university interim President Greg Postel said of the legal team’s presentation. “At the end of the conversation we felt that our initial decision to begin the process of termination for cause was still in the best interests of the university. And that’s why the resolution was put forth and passed.”
The association had authorized Postel to begin the process of firing Pitino for cause on Oct. 2 after Postel placed the coach on unpaid leave Sept. 27.
The move Monday officially ends Pitino’s 16-year tenure with the program, a run that included winning the 2013 NCAA championship but was tarnished by several embarrassing offcourt incidents.
Pitino, 65, has $44 million remaining in salary and bonuses in a contract extension through the
2025-26 season.
College football
LEACH HAS NO PLANS TO
LEAVE COUGARS » Washington State coach Mike Leach said he was as surprised as anyone when he learned athletic director Bill Moos had taken a new job at Nebraska.
But Leach said he has no plans to follow Moos, noting Nebraska already has Mike Riley as its coach. Some Cougars fans are concerned that Moos may try to lure Leach away. “I wish Bill the best and we just move forward,” said Leach, who was hired by Moos before the 2012 season. Washington State president Kirk Schulz has named John Johnson, the senior associate director of athletics, to serve as interim athletic director. NUTT, MISSISSIPPI REACH LAWSUIT AGREEMENT » The University of Mississippi and former football coach Houston Nutt have reached an agreement to resolve Nutt’s lawsuit against the school.
The Rebels’ former coach, who led the program from 2008 to 2011, was alleging a breach of his severance agreement because of false statements he said school officials made during an ongoing NCAA investigation into rules violations by the football program.
The initial federal lawsuit was filed in July during SEC football media days. It was eventually dismissed, but refiled in state court last week.
Nutt received an apology from the university, both parties said in a statement, but no financial details were disclosed.
Soccer
U.S. UNDER-17 TEAM ADVANCES IN WORLD CUP » Tim Weah scored a hat trick as the United States cruised past Paraguay, 5-0, in New Delhi to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Under-17 World Cup.
The U.S. team will play either England or Japan on Saturday.
Germany also booked a place in the last eight by defeating Colombia, 4-0.
Boxing
PULEV WITHDRAWS FROM
TITLE BOUT » Kubrat Pulev has pulled out of his world heavyweight title fight against IBF and WBA champion Anthony Joshua because of a shoulder injury.
Joshua will now face Carlos Takam, who is rated No. 3 by the IBF.
The fight will take place in Cardiff on Oct. 28.