Louisville, Rick Pitino to Appeal NCAA Penalties

The NCAA issued a number of penalties against Louisville on Thursday after completing an investigation into the school’s sex-for-play scandal. In a press conference held after the penalties were announced, head coach Rick Pitino, athletic director Tom Jurich and interim school president Gregory Postel emphatically stated Louisville will be appealing the NCAA punishments.

Penalties

The penalties listed in the NCAA infraction report released on Thursday include:

• Four years of probation from June 15, 2017, through June 14, 2021
• Number of men’s basketball official visits for recruiting reduced to 16 during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years.
• Rick Pitino suspended for first five ACC games of 2017-2018 season: during the suspension Pitino can have no contact with players or members of his coaching staff.
• Loss of four men’s basketball scholarships during the probation period
• Former operations director Andre McGee given a 10-year show-cause period
• Former program assistant Brandon Williams given a one-year show-cause period
• Basketball records in which players competed while ineligible from December 2010 to July 2014 will be vacated

The basketball program has already served a self-imposed postseason ban during the 2015-2016 season. The potentially vacated records and wins during the 2010-2014 time period bring Louisville’s 2013 national championship victory into question.

Penalties include 5-game head coach suspension and vacation of records in which student-athletes competed while ineligible from 2010-14.

— NCAA (@NCAA) June 15, 2017

Response

In Thursday’s press conference, Pitino said he has “personally lost faith in the NCAA” and thinks the penalties are “over the top severe.” Pitino currently holds the distinction of being the only men’s college basketball coach to win a title at two different programs(2013 Louisville and 1996 Kentucky).

Louisville interim president Gregory Postel’s full statement on the NCAA ruling can be seen here.