The trustees also heard an update on the university’s financial picture from interim CFO Susan Howarth. Howarth says UofL’s cost cutting efforts are working and there is “good news” in the numbers. UofL is meeting its budget targets and on pace to meet its goal of spending $10 million less than the 2016-17 fiscal year in each of three categories: compensation, procurement and other cost savings.

“We feel very comfortable about meeting these goals,” Howarth said.

Howarth says first quarter revenues are running ahead of last year’s and a slight drop in the size of the freshman class has been offset by an increase in enrollment at the Brandeis School of Law.

The board also took two actions designed to address the two remaining concerns of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, UofL’s accreditation agency:

• Approved memoranda of understanding between the university and both the UofL Real Estate Foundation and Pediatric Medical Office Building, Inc.
• Approved a resolution in support of administrators currently filling interim roles

Also, faculty members Susan Jarosi and Rob Keynton appeared before the full board expressing concerns about the board’s plan to conduct a closed search for the next UofL President. Jarosi and Keynton head the Presidential Search Faculty Consultation Committee and laid out reasons the board should conduct a more open search process, reveal the three finalists and bring them to campus for meetings with faculty, staff and students before a final decision is made. Due to time constraints there was no discussion following the presentation, but board chair David Grissom invited the faculty members to appear at the next meeting for a question and answer session.��

From an administrative perspective, we are confident in the leadership abilities of the acting athletic director, Vince Tyra.�� We know that Vince will lead the department in a way that best serves the university, and our student athletes, both on and off the field.��

On behalf of the board of trustees, we thank those who have taken the time to write us in the past weeks.�� Your passion and support for the University of Louisville will ensure that our best days are ahead of us.��

To our students, faculty, staff and Cards fans, this is our opportunity to demonstrate the unity and integrity that define being a Louisville Cardinal.�� When I walk around campus I’m always inspired when I see a student wearing one of our t-shirts that reads “Rise to the Occasion.” Right now, we need to challenge ourselves to do just that.

Thank you.

Postel met with Pitino and Jurich separately Wednesday morning to inform them of the decision, which comes after allegations that a men’s basketball coach participated with an apparel company and others in a scheme to pay a recruit to come to the university.

That player has been notified that he has been removed from team activities.

“The allegations are serious,” Postel said. “It is vital for this university to strictly adhere to NCAA rules and, of course, federal law. Doing nothing would be a tacit endorsement of potential criminal and unethical behavior.”

Jurich has been suspended with pay, effective immediately, pending the next meeting of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees. Pitino has been suspended without pay, effective immediately.

Postel said he will work quickly to name an interim athletic director and, together, they will name an interim head men’s basketball coach. He said he hopes to announce those appointments within 48 hours. Decisions regarding coaches named during the investigation will be made by the interim athletic director.

Postel stressed that the university will cooperate fully with law enforcement and NCAA officials.

The press conference is available below: 

An important element of the agreement is the UofL adidas Internship Program, which provides scholarship assistance for more than 20 students who work with athletic department leaders. The program provides opportunities for practical learning experiences for students who want to develop knowledge, skills and abilities in athletic administration.

The announcement was made Aug. 24 and a news conference was held the following morning.

A partner with adidas since 1998, the new agreement replaces the final year of the current deal, which was to run through 2019. The Portland, Oregon-based company will supply footwear, apparel, accessories and marketing support for all 23 of the university’s intercollegiate athletic programs.��

“When we began our relationship with adidas nearly 20 years ago, we weren’t in the same shape we are now,” said , UofL Vice President and Director of Athletics. “adidas has stood arm and arm with us through adversity and success. The biggest winners in our cooperative partnership have clearly been our student-athletes, who are at the focus of all that we do. We are thrilled to be partnered with an enterprise who shares our passion for innovation, pioneering efforts, striving for excellence and simply doing things differently.”

Below is a promotional video made to announce the extension.

Below is a joint statement from Acting President Dr. Neville Pinto and Vice President/Director of Athletics Tom Jurich:

“As parents and university leaders who care about every student who comes to the University of Louisville, we are heartbroken that inappropriate behavior took place here. It saddens us tremendously. We promised that if something was done wrong, we would be open about it, acknowledge it, and correct it.

From the beginning, no one wanted to know the truth more than UofL and that’s why we immediately notified the NCAA Enforcement Staff and worked diligently with them to determine what took place. It’s why we retained NCAA consultant Chuck Smrt and outside counsel Steve Thompson to determine the facts.

We are now in receipt of the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations (NOA). This is the next step in a process that will end with our appearance before the Committee on Infractions in the spring of 2017.�� We have 90 days to determine our specific position on each allegation and prepare a written response.

From the start, the NCAA Enforcement Staff had our full cooperation. Its staff and our investigators spoke to numerous Louisville employees and third parties, and the university produced every document requested by the NCAA. We are disappointed that former Director of Basketball Operations Andre McGee did not cooperate.

These allegations underscore why it was appropriate for the university to self-impose strict penalties on our basketball program earlier this year.  

The NOA aligns with the results of our inquiry: improper activities took place in a dormitory that never should have occurred. When the facts were established, we acted. We took appropriate punitive and corrective actions. The penalties we imposed were among the most severe penalties ever self-imposed by a NCAA member.  

It is important to note what is not being alleged. The NOA does not contain an allegation that Coach Pitino had knowledge of what took place in the dormitory. The NCAA does not allege a ‘lack of institutional control’ at Louisville, a very severe allegation. The NCAA does not allege that there was a ‘failure to monitor’ against the institution, also a severe allegation. The NCAA does not allege that Coach Pitino failed to ‘promote an atmosphere of compliance’, a serious allegation. The NOA does contain a narrower allegation – which we will dispute – that Coach Pitino failed to demonstrate that he monitored Mr. McGee.��

We believe that Mr. McGee acted furtively and note that the NOA does not indicate that any other university employee besides Mr. McGee had knowledge of these activities. We are confident in Coach Pitino and we know he is and always has been committed to NCAA compliance.

The entire episode is a deep disappointment to all of us who love this university. We appreciate the NCAA’s efforts and we regret tremendously that this took place. Everyone who works here knows it can never happen again. We will continue to work cooperatively with the NCAA for the final resolution of this matter.”