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In a press conference called only one hour before it was set to begin, University of Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino apologized late Wednesday afternoon for his “indiscretion six years ago.” Without directly addressing recent reports of a consensual sexual encounter with Karen Sypher, a woman charged with attempting to extort him, Pitino gave an impromptu statement apologizing to his family, friends, players, and the fans.
Pitino, seemingly remorseful, went as far as to apologize to the media who have been covering him since his early days at the University of Kentucky. Citing the way he teaches players to handle difficulties, he said he admitted his actions to his family and university officials prior to yesterday’s statement.
“When you have a problem, if you tell the truth the problem becomes part of your past,” he said. “If you lie, it becomes part of your future.”
Pitino addressed rumors that he may resign by saying: “I plan, regardless of how difficult a situation this is, to coach here at the University of Louisville for as long as I physically can maintain the passion I have for the game of basketball, which is still stronger than when I was a head coach at 24 years of age.”
Though fans have a mixed reaction as it pertains to the moral indiscretions committed by Coach Pitino, it seems a majority still look forward to Pitino coaching at U of L.
“He’s still my coach,” freshman political science major Justin Thurman said. “He didn’t do anything illegal, so why leave one of the best programs in the country.”
Pitino’s statement came after his lawyer disputed earlier reports by the Courier-Journal that cited police records. It was reported that money was given to Sypher two weeks after their encounter, when she called and told him she was pregnant. Stories begin to vary when the Courier-Journal reported that Pitino supplied $3,000 to Sypher after she said she needed an abortion and didn’t have health insurance, according to Pitino’s statement to police.
“The way this has been reported in the media is not accurate,” Pitino’s attorney, Steve Pence told The Associated Press. “The coach has not done anything illegal.”
Sypher alleges that Pitino offered to help pay for her health insurance, not an abortion. When he was informed that she may be pregnant, he stated that he would request a blood test to confirm or deny whether or not the child was his.
Support for the coach is standing strong as both the University of Louisville President Dr. James Ramsey and Athletic Director Tom Jurich both released statements supporting Coach Pitino immediately after his press conference.
“As I said yesterday, Coach Pitino has been truthful with us about this matter all along and we stand by him and his family during this process,” Jurich said. “I expect Coach Pitino to be the head coach at the University of Louisville for a long time.”
The president of the university was critical of the coach, but will continue to shows his support throughout this process.
In Ramsey’s statement, he reflected on the impact Pitino’s actions may have on the students: “As we try to teach our students, when you make a mistake, you admit it and right it as best you can. Coach has done that today.”
“I’m just happy the administration and Jurich are supporting him,” senior Psychology major Allen Hornback said. “He was the one victimized. We all need to stick by Coach Pitino right now, in the same manner we do when he is coaching us to Big East Championships and deep runs in the NCAA tournament.”
“I love the game. I love my players. I love this university as well as this community. I won’t coach anywhere else. I don’t believe in anything as much as I believe in this university and this state. So, as long as they’ll have me, I’m going to coach here,” Pitino said.
