Louisville settles with former athletic director
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville reached a $4.5 million settlement with former athletic director Tom Jurich, who was fired in the wake of a national federal corruption investigation of men’s college basketball. Jurich disputed his firing on Oct. 18 for cause after nearly 20 years as AD and had considered suing the school. On Friday, the University of Louisville Athletic Association and Board of Trustees approved the settlement. Jurich’s employment ended “without cause” as a result of his resignation, also described in the settlement as “retirement.” He’ll also receive another $2.6 million in accrued employment benefits, along with home game tickets and parking for Louisville football and basketball for 20 years. An audit of the University of Louisville Foundation released last June showed that Jurich averaged annual compensation of more than $2.76 million from 2010 to ’16, including more than $5.35 million in 2016. Then-interim president Greg Postel placed Jurich on paid administrative leave in September after the school’s acknowledgement of its involvement in the investigation. Trustees voted 10-3 to fire Jurich, two days after the ULAA unanimously fired Hall of Fame men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino. The former AD said in a joint statement he “spent the better part of my career” working with dedicated athletes, coaches and staff to elevate Louisville. He added, “I am proud of what we accomplished, which is well-documented.” Jurich’s legal team had stressed the former AD did nothing illegal nor violated NCAA rules. Trustee chairman J. David Grissom said in the statement that “Everyone is pleased that this matter has been successfully resolved. All parties can move forward to begin the next chapter.” Pitino has filed a $38.7 million federal lawsuit against Louisville, alleging breach of contract.
TENNIS
› ROME — Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will renew their rivalry in the Italian Open semifinals. Nadal, who holds a record seven titles at the event, overcame a poor first set and a partisan crowd to beat Fabio Fognini on Friday, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Then, four-time event winner Djokovic rallied past Kei Nishikori, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3. Nadal and Djokovic have played each other 50 times, but their most recent meeting came more than a year ago, when Nadal won in the Madrid Open semifinals. Djokovic leads Nadal 26-24 overall, but Nadal holds a 15-7 advantage on clay. In the other half of the draw, 2017 tourney champion Alexander Zverev extended his winning streak to 12 matches with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over ninth-seeded David Goffin. He’ll meet Australian Open finalist Marin Cilic, who won 6-3, 6-3 against 10th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta.
HORSE RACING
› BALTIMORE — After an unplanned two-month break from racing, Red Ruby returned with a flourish in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. Red Ruby pulled away from Coach Rocks on a sloppy track Friday and cruised to a 4 3/4-length victory, her third career win in five tries. The Grade 2, $250,000 race for 3-year-old fillies was run on a cold, rainy afternoon at Pimlico Race Course. Not long after finishing fourth in the Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 18, Red Ruby got spooked and “had a little accident in the shed row,” trainer Kellyn Gorder said. Gorder explained Red Ruby ran backward, dragged her hot walker into the middle of the barn, ran into a metal ladder and ending up needing 13 stitches. “We got really, really lucky. They were all superficial,” Gorder said. “But she sat in the stall for 16 days while those things healed.” The injury forced the Kentucky-bred filly to miss the Fantasy Stakes last month at Oaklawn Park and the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago at Churchill Downs in Louisville. On Friday, Red Ruby returned in style. With jockey Paco Lopez aboard for the first time, Red Ruby charged past Coach Rocks at the top of the stretch. A daughter of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow, Red Ruby paid $7.80, $4 and $3.20. Coming off a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks, Coach Rocks paid $4.20 and $3.20. Indy Union took third.