“Coach Pitino has been truthful with us about this matter all along, and we stand by him and his family during this process. I’m a million percent behind him. I expect Coach Pitino to be the head coach at the University of Louisville for a long time.”
— Tom Jurich, University of Louisville Vice-President and Director of Athletics
“[Pitino has] clearly made errors in judgment that have come under intense public scrutiny. We can’t ignore these errors in judgment, and they have saddened and disappointed me. I know this has been difficult on the coach, it’s been difficult on me and difficult for our university.”
— Dr. James Ramsey, University of Louisville President
The Good
March 15, 2009: University of Louisville men’s basketball team receives the overall #1 seed in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
March 16, 2009: Final regular season rankings show Louisville as the #1 team in the country in AP Top 25 and ESPN/USA Today Polls.
March 29, 2009: U of L men’s basketball team reaches the Elite Eight for second straight year.
The Bad
April 18, 2009: Coach Rick Pitino says he is the target of an extortion attempt.
April 24, 2009: Karen Sypher is charged with extortion and lying to the FBI.
July 9, 2009: Sypher alleges to police she was raped by Pitino twice in 2003.
The Ugly
Aug. 11, 2009: Police report released detailing Sypher’s accusations; report shows that Pitino denies rape but admits to consensual sexual relationship and supplying $3000 for health insurance.
Aug. 12, 2009: Pitino issues public apology for “that indiscretion six years ago”; he will continue to coach.
Aug. 13, 2009: University of Louisville President James Ramsey announces that Pitino would remain in his position as coach.