Rick Pitino Out As The Head Coach At Louisville?
Rick Pitino's days as Louisville's head coach might be numbered. The question is how many?
Will he coach this season or will they hire a new coach before the season tips -off for Louisville on October 30th when Louisville host Kentucky Wesleyan?
Louisville head basketball coach Rick Pitino has told members of his coaching staff that he expects to lose his job over allegations that the Cardinals basketball program is involved in a federal investigation into fraud and corruption in college basketball recruiting. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
A source told ESPN's Michael Eaves that Pitino "knows it's coming" after a staff meeting of the basketball coaches Wednesday morning in Louisville. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors in New York announced charges of fraud and corruption against 10 people involved in college basketball, including four assistant coaches -- Auburn's Chuck Person, Oklahoma State's Lamont Evans, Arizona's Emanuel "Book" Richardson and USC's Tony Bland. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
The FBI probe focused on coaches being paid tens of thousands of dollars to steer NBA-bound players toward sports agents, financial advisers, and apparel companies. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
Federal criminal complaints accuse at least one coach at a "public research university located in Kentucky" -- identified as Louisville -- of taking part in a scheme to funnel about $100,000 from Adidas to an All-America high school player whom the Cardinals were recruiting. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
Tuesday night, Pitino released a prepared statement saying the allegations "come as a complete shock to me" and that he knew nothing about them. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
"If true, I agree with the U.S. Attorneys Office that these third-party schemes, initiated by a few bad actors, operated to commit a fraud on the impacted universities and their basketball programs, including the University of Louisville," Pitino said in his statement. "Our fans and supporters deserve better and I am committed to taking whatever steps are needed to ensure those responsible are held accountable." "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
Louisville currently is on probation by the NCAA, and Pitino is facing a suspension by college's governing body following a sex scandal investigation "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
On June 15, the NCAA suspended Pitino for five Atlantic Coast Conference games. The university is appealing. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
The NCAA also placed the basketball program on four years' probation, vacated wins in which ineligible players participated and issued a 10-year show-cause order for former basketball operations director Andre McGee. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
Former escort Katina Powell alleged that McGee had hired her and other escorts to strip and have sex with Louisville recruits and players. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job
The school last won a NCAA basketball championship in 2013. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20835336/louisville-basketball-coach-rick-pitino-tells-staff-expects-lose-job