UofL was found to have committed one violation, the IARP concluding that a former assistant coach was knowingly involved in funneling cash to the trainer of a potential student athlete.

The university received several penalties, including a $5,000 fine, two years probation and several recruiting restrictions.

The university issued a statement that read in part, “…For our University, the Louisville community, our men’s basketball program and our passionate fans, today marks the beginning of a new chapter and we are only looking forward.�

For more information on the decision and the university’s response, go to: .

The Cardinals’ GSR, most recently reported for freshmen who entered in the 2014-15 academic year, has risen 25% since the reporting began 17 years ago.Ìý
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Nineteen of the Cardinals’ 23 sports attained a GSR above 80% in the most recent report, including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball.
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All UofL student-athletes combined to produce an average grade point average of 3.0 or better for each of the last 21 straight semesters.Ìý Cardinal student-athletes achieved an impressive 3.256 collective GPA for 2020-21 academic year.Ìý A total of 360 student-athletes were 2020 Red and Black Scholars, representing a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better.
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Five Louisville athletic teams – men’s and women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf and volleyball – received public recognition through the NCAA Academic Performance Program for ranking in the top 10% in the 2015-19 (most recent) multiyear Academic Progress Rate scores, which measures academic eligibility, retention and graduation for student-athletes. Fourteen UofL programs produced perfect APR scores for the most recent single-year figures.

Forrest (Ellenwood, Georgia) registered a Louisville school-record mark of 23.26 meters (76-3.75) to claim the gold medal on the opening day of the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with the top collegiate throw of the year. Forrest took the gold medal in the weight throw at the 2021 ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships. She was named the ACC Indoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year and ACC Women’s Field Performer of the Year. Forrest was also a 2021 ACC Postgraduate Scholar.
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In addition to this season’s success, she was the 2019 NCAA runner-up in the weight throw and an all-American in the hammer throw. She qualified for the 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships before the season was cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19. She is also a member of Louisville’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee serving as an ACC Representative and is a three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.
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Forrest earned her bachelor’s degree in health and human performance – exercise with a minor in sport administration in May 2021.

Schneider (San Diego) has collected numerous athletic and academic honors after a career-best season in which she helped the Cardinals to their first-ever NCAA final four and the ACC regular season title. The senior defender finished her collegiate career with a 4.0 GPA while majoring in biology with a concentration in genetics subcellular and a minor in Spanish. The 2020-21 NFHCA Scholar-Athlete of the Year was also the recipient of the Elite 90 Award for the NCAA Field Hockey Championship and was a finalist for the Honda Award. Additionally, she earned CoSIDA Academic At-Large All-District honors.
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The three-year starter and team co-captain earned NFHCA All-America third team honors and is a two-time West Region selection (2019, 2020). She is a four-time NFHCA National Scholar of Distinction, a two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection and has been a member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in each of her seasons at Louisville.Ìý
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Schneider earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in Spanish in May 2021.
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About the NCAA Woman of the Year
Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year award has honored the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of outstanding female college athletes.
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Following university nominations, conference offices will then select their nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year. Each conferenceÌýnominee will be notified by the NCAA, and all conference-round nominees will be announced on ncaa.org in August.Ìý

Conference nominations are forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee, which identifies the top 10 honorees in each of the three NCAA divisions. From those 30 honorees, the selection committee then determines the three finalists in each division for a total of nine finalists.

The Committee on Women’s Athletics will select the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year from the nine finalists. At an award ceremony Oct. 17 in Indianapolis, the Top 30 honorees will be celebrated, and the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named.

Louisville and Stanford are the only two schools from Power Five conferences that have earned the APR recognition in at least seven of the last eight years. The men’s basketball team has attained a collective 3.0 grade point average for 22 of the last 24 semesters, including a 3.160 cumulative team mark for the Spring 2020 semester under head coachÌý.Ìý



It is the third-straight year that the Cardinals’ women’s basketball team has received public recognition through the NCAA Academic Performance Program. Four team members earned their degrees this semester, includingÌýÌý(M.S. in Sport Administration),ÌýÌý(B.S. in Criminal Justice),ÌýÌý(B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Communication), andÌýÌý(B.A. in Communication with a minor in Sociology). ÌýThe team achieved a 3.688 grade point average for the 2020 Spring semester GPA, highest in the CoachÌýÌýera over the last 13 years, and its 2019-20 academic year GPA of 3.415 was the second-highest.

The Cardinals have earned a GPA above 3.0 for the last 12 straight semesters and 11 of 16 team members made the Dean’s List for the Spring semester (3.5+ GPA). ÌýandÌýÌýwere both named to the All-ACC Academic Team.



This marks the fourth consecutive year that the women’s cross country team is earning the honor. Under head coachÌý, the team earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors this fall with a team GPA of 3.30. Three members of the team, Bailey Beery, Brittney Hansen and Lauren Radenhausen, earned their undergraduate degrees this semester. Two-time All-American Dorcas Wasike was named the ACC Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year while also being named to the 2018 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.



The women’s golf program is receiving the recognition for the 10th consecutive year. The team has produced 19 semesters in a row with a GPA of 3.4 and eight with a 3.5 or higher. Coached byÌý, the Cardinals achieved a 2020 Spring GPA of 3.58. ÌýLast summer, four golfers were named Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholars, including Olivia Cason, Lauren Hartlage, Delaney Shah and Lauren Thibodeau.



UofL’s volleyball team, which reached its first-ever NCAA Elite Eight in 2019, posted an impressive 3.845 GPA for the 2020 Spring semester, with all 15 student-athletes achieving above a 3.0. In addition, 11 of coachÌý‘s student-athletes made Red and Black Scholars List with cumulative GPAs above 3.25. Six volleyball players made the Dean’s Scholar List with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a total of seven students made Dean’s List with a 3.5 GPA or better. Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,ÌýÌýandÌýÌýwere named to the All-ACC Academic list with McHenry being awarded the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship for Volleyball.



A total of 83 teams from Atlantic Coast Conference member schools were honored with APR Public Recognition Awards, second-most among Power 5 conferences. The ACC is one of two Power 5 conferences to have at least two teams recognized from each of its member schools. ÌýThe ACC has led all Power 5 conferences in 14 of the 15 years since the NCAA began APR public recognition of Division I teams. ÌýA total of 525 ACC teams have earned APR Public Recognition Awards over the past six years, which leads all Power 5 conferences.

Louisville’s five teams are among nearly 1,400 teams from 326 Division I universities that were recognized for academic excellence for ranking among the top 10 percent of their sports in the most recent APR.ÌýÌýMultiyear APRs for the most-recent single-year figures from 2018-19 for all Division I sports teams will be released on May 19.ÌýÌýThe process for determining an Academic Progress Rate score is included atÌý.

“It’s important to remember these are allegations, not facts, and we will diligently prepare a comprehensive response and submit it within the prescribed 90-day period,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “For any allegations that are proven to be factual, we will take responsibility, as accountability is one of our core Cardinal Principles. However, we will not hesitate to push back where the evidence does not support the NCAA’s interpretations or allegations of charges.

“Over the last 2.5 years, we are proud of how the UofL has worked hard to transform itself into a model of compliance and ethical conduct and has not shied away from difficult decisions, going well-beyond reforms atÌýanyÌýother involved institution.ÌýWe will always be guided by our Cardinal Principles and we must keep them front and center when confronting challenges. We will not allow others to define us, as those of us who are a part of this amazing institution know the greatness of the University of Louisville.”

The allegations include:

• A Level I allegation that boosters, as purportedly identified and defined by the NCAA, some of whom had no traditional connections to the university beyond their affiliation with Adidas or professional athlete management entities, provided impermissible benefits to prospective student athletes
• A Level II allegation that two former men’s basketball staff members provided impermissible benefits to – and had impermissible contact with – the family of an incoming student athlete
• A Level II allegation that the institution failed to adequately monitor the recruitment of an incoming high-profile student athlete
• A Level I allegation that the former head men’s basketball coach did not satisfy his head coach responsibility when he failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance; also included is a Level II failure to cooperate allegation against the former head coach.

There are also lower-level violations, including those self-identified and promptly reported by the institution, included within the larger context of the four key allegations.

For more information, go to uofl.edu/ncaa.

It’s also tough for the Cardinal faithful.

In response, the UofL Athletics Department has launched a “#WeRiseAsOne” campaign across its social media channels. AD Vince Tyra has also penned a letter to fans, available in its entirety below:Ìý

“Cardinals Faithful,

This last week has been a difficult time for us all. I wanted to reach out to you directly as we navigate this unprecedented time for our nation as much as for Louisville Athletics, and truly thank you for your continued passion and support of the Louisville Cardinals.

As you know, due to the ever-evolving developments of COVID-19, the University of Louisville, in conjunction with the Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA, has suspended all athletic-related activities including all competition, formal and organized practice, recruiting and participation in NCAA championships until further notice.

While this is an extremely tough time for the entire Louisville Athletics community, the health and safety of our student-athletes, fans, and staff is of the utmost importance. Plans could be altered at any time as more information becomes available in this very fluid and unprecedented matter. We are committed to open and continued communication with you, the lifeblood of our beloved program.

We are in this business because we are driven to see results. We are competitors at heart, but right now that’s impossible to do. Our focus right now needs to be on how we can console, motivate, and guide those around us – and to use this time to lay the critical groundwork for our next, best chapter. I am so proud of the student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans that call themselves Louisville Cardinals.

Our program is no stranger to adversity and rising to the next challenge is part of the Cardinals’ DNA. We will get through this together, and I believe our best days are ahead of us.

Until we meet again, wear your red with pride, communicate your passion for our program, and know we send the very best wishes for you and your family. Remember, in times of uncertainty, we rise as one.

– Vince”

“We are incredibly proud to be as highly ranked in community service as we are in athletics,” said Vince Tyra, director of Athletics. “We have great leaders in our athletic department that provide our student athletes an opportunity to give back to so many causes in the Louisville community. Our student athletes love giving back and are learning a great deal while doing so.”
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NCAA Team Works, which coordinates community service efforts at NCAA championships, and Helper Helper, a volunteer management and tracking platform, launched the community service competition to recognize student-athletes who give back to their communities. Winning schools’ victories are decided based on the number of service hours completed and participation of student-athletes.
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This is the sixth annual NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Community Service Competition award, with all Divisions I, II and III participating.Ìý
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“Engaging in community service provides student athletes with the opportunity to become active members of their community and has a lasting, positive impact on society at large,” said Jazmine Jones, UofL Women’s Basketball player and SAAC vice president. “Community service enables students to acquire life skills and knowledge, as well as provide a service to those who need it most. Here at Louisville, community service is much bigger than the sport of the student athletes because it means a lot to us and we take it serious to become positive role models to kids in the community.”
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Louisville, which has ranked in the top five for service all six years of the competition, accumulated 6,827 service hours by 718 student-athletes during the fall semester. As a whole, the department averaged 9.5 hours per student-athlete, as UofL teams partnered with 98 nonprofit organizations over the course of the semester. The top four partners included: Jefferson County Public Schools, Score International, Norton Children’s Hospital, and Louisville Ironman.
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The Cards Come Together event saw 165 student-athletes volunteer their time. The baseball team led the department averaging 25 hours per student-athlete. The lacrosse team ranked highest among the women’s teams, averaging 20 hours per student-athlete.
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Individually, 87 Louisville student-athletes contributed at least 20 hours over the course of the semester. Additionally, 221 student-athletes volunteered at least 10 hours during the semester.

Seventeen sports attained a GSR above 85% in the most recent report, including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, women’s soccer, softball, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s track and field and volleyball.Ìý

All UofL student athletes combined to produce an average grade point average of 3.0 or better for each of the last 17 straight semesters. Cardinal student-athletes achieved a collective 3.254 GPA combined for the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters. Ìý

UofL’s women’s basketball, women’s cross country and women’s golf are among the top 10% in their respective sports in the latest figures for the Academic Progress Rate (APR), which measures academic eligibility, retention and graduation for student-athletes. UofL athletic teams posted 14 perfect scores in the most recent single-year APR.

A former student-athlete himself — he played basketball for IUPUI from 2010-2014 — Gibbs says that he was already familiar with most of the NCAA regulations he has encountered this summer.

But he was surprised to learn that the NCAA doesn’t create the laws its member institutions abide by; rather, it collects, maintains, interprets and enforces the laws voted on by the institutions.

Most of his work at the NCAA has involved legislative research, he says.

“A lot of my job has been reviewing proposals that have become amended laws to determine if older interpretations have been affected by this new amendment and if they need to be revised,” he says.

While this externship hasn’t been the typical law student summer job, Gibbs says he has appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the world of sports and entertainment law.

That’s a big change from the experience he has gained as a intern in Hilliard Lyons’ trusts and estates department. He has worked there throughout law school.

Wherever his career takes him, Gibbs says he knows law is the right path for him

“I didn’t know any lawyers growing up as a kid. I didn’t know much about law school up until the day I got here. But it was just something that I always wanted. It was a goal of mine. I didn’t understand what it was at the time, but now that I’ve done it and I’m going in to my third year, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” he says. “I really enjoy it. I’m confident that I made the right decision in going to law school.