Louisville suspends basketball coach
The University of Louisville said Friday that it is suspending head basketball coach Chris Mack for six games for failing to follow procedures in handling an extortion attempt by one of his assistants.
Mack “failed to follow university guidelines, policies, and procedures in handling the matter,” Louisville athletics director Vince Tyra said in a news release.
Mack's former assistant, Dino Gaudio, pleaded guilty in June to a federal charge of attempted extortion. Gaudio was sentenced in federal court Friday to probation and a $10,000 fine for the attempted extortion.
The university said it determined Mack was a victim of the attempted extortion.
Gaudio was dismissed from the team along with another assistant in March after the team missed the NCAA tournament.
Federal prosecutors said Gaudio, after learning he would be fired, threatened to go to the news media with alleged NCAA violations by the team. He asked for 17 months of salary or a $425,000 lump sum payment, according to the U.S. attorney.
WEST VIRGINIA: Bob Huggins has agreed to a two-year contract extension that includes the option for him to step aside as head basketball coach or continue coaching after the 2023-24 season.
Under the agreement announced Friday, Huggins, who turns 68 next month, will earn $4.15 million in each of the next three seasons.