Louisville head coach Rick Pitino is now suspended without pay after the university’s program was linked to an investigation on federal bribery, fraud, and corruption, it was revealed.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Pitino’s attorney, Steve Pence, said that the coach is “effectively’ fired after revelations of Louisville’s program is part of an FBI investigation regarding fraud in recruitment.
An executive for Adidas and four college coaches are also under investigation.
“We were surprised to learn this morning of potential actions against one of our assistant basketball coaches by federal officials,” read a statement from Oklahoma State, one of the colleges under investigation.
“We are reviewing and investigating the allegations. We are cooperating fully with officials. Let it be clear we take very seriously the high standards of conduct expected in our athletic department. We will not tolerate any deviation from those standards.”
