NCAA report hits Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An NCAA report accused Louisville of four serious violations and criticized the conduct of basketball coach Rick Pitino for failing to monitor a former staffer who hired escorts and strippers for sex parties with recruits and players.
The report Thursday didn’t mention a lack of institutional control, which is considered the most serious violation in some cases.
Pitino disputed the finding that he didn’t monitor Andre McGee, saying his tendency is to overmonitor. If anything, Pitino said he was guilty of trusting someone to tell him what was going on.
‘‘ This man [ McGee] made a mistake, and we apologize for his mistakes,’’ Pitino, who has denied knowledge of the alleged violations, said during a news conference.
The NCAA’s letter is the first step in a process that might extend into next spring. Louisville has 90 days to respond.
The letter culminates an inquiry that began with the publication last October of Katina Powell’s book, ‘‘ Breaking Cardinal Rules: Basketball and the Escort Queen.’’
Powell wrote that McGee paid her $ 10,000 for strippers to perform 22 shows from 2010 to 2014 — a period that included Louisville’s 2012- 13 NCAA championship season — with many occurring in the players’ Billy Minardi Hall dormitory. The building is named for Pitino’s brother- in- law, who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Compliance consultant Chuck Smrt, hired by the school to investigate the allegations, said he didn’t think vacating the title was ‘‘ appropriate,’’ based on precedent.
The NCAA’s letter lists the value of the impermissible/ extra benefits as at least $ 5,400 and cites multiple instances in which McGee hired strippers to dance and have sex with recruits.
Louisville already has imposed its own penalties. The most severe one — a postseason ban after the school determined violations occurred — was announced Feb. 5. A month later, the school announced the reduction of two scholarships and the number of days staffers could recruit.
Acting university president Neville Pinto and athletic director Tom Jurich said the NCAA’s findings align with the results of the school’s investigation. He said the school would fight the charge against Pitino.
‘‘ Improper activities took place in a dormitory that never should have occurred,’’ they said in a statement. ‘‘ When the facts were established, we acted. We took appropriate punitive and corrective actions. The penalties we imposed were among the most severe penalties ever selfimposed by a NCAA member.’’