One of college basketball’s most illustrious coaching careers seemed to come to an ignominious close on Wednesday as Rick Pitino was ousted by the University of Louisville.
“Effective immediately, Coach Pitino has been placed on an unpaid administrative leave,” Louisville’s interim president, Greg Postel, told reporters. “Coach’s Pitino’s employment will be reviewed at a later date.”
Pitino’s lawyer, Steve Pence, told The Louisville Courier-Journal that Pitino, 65, was “effectively fired.”
The move came one day after federal prosecutors accused two unnamed Cardinals coaches of directing money provided by the university’s apparel partner, Adidas, to two high school prospects, and three months after Pitino and his program were sanctioned by the N.