Suits settled

The University of Louisville Athletic Association and Rick Pitino, the school’s former men’s basketball coach, have settled their lawsuits stemming from his departure from the school.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville Athletic Association and Rick Pitino have settled their lawsuits stemming from his departure from the school.

The former men’s basketball coach received no money in the settlement, and his personnel file was changed to reflect that he was not terminated but that he resigned.

Pitino sued the ULAA for more than $38.7 million in November 2017, accusing it of breaching its contract by firing him for cause the previous month in the wake of a federal bribery investigation of college basketball. Louisville countersued, seeking monetary damages for vacated games and bonuses.

The agreement comes a week after representatives for the association and Pitino held settlement talks at the federal courthouse that included the coach.

The settlement agreement unanimously approved by the ULAA said Pitino has been paid compensation and wages he was due. The school agreed not to pursue further legal action. The agreement changes his departure to a resignation effective Oct. 3, 2017 — 13 days before the ULAA fired him after 16 seasons as coach of the Cardinals.

The settlement marks the end of a bitter final chapter between the school and Pitino, who has repeatedly said he knew nothing about payments made to the family of a recruit to sign with Louisville. Pitino was not named in the federal complaint.

Louisville acknowledged its involvement in the bribery probe and placed the Hall of Fame coach on unpaid administrative leave, which Pitino alleged came without notice and no legally justified cause.