PITINO POCKETED 98% OF UL’S ADIDAS PROCEEDS

When University of Louisville athletics director Tom Jurich announced a new $160 million, 10-year deal with athletic apparel giant Adidas on Aug. 25, a reporter asked him if some of the proceeds would be shared with the university. “It’s for the athletic department,” Jurich replied. “It’s for these student-athletes. It’s been earmarked for them.” In fact, under the current deal with Adidas, which expires July 1, 98% of the cash provided by Adidas goes to one person: Rick Pitino, the now-suspended head coach. In 2015-16, $1.5 million went to Pitino under his personal services agreement with the apparel company while $25,000 went to the program, according to a contract obtained by The (Louisville) Courier-Journal under the state public records act. The year before, Pitino also got $1.5 million, while the department banked $10,000.