NCAA Slaps Louisville With Notice Of Allegations In Pay-For-Play Scheme

The NCAA on Monday hit Louisville with a Notice of Allegations in the pay-for-play scheme involving recruit Brian Bowen that ended up getting former coach Rick Pitino fired in 2017.

The Notice of Allegations covers the 2016-17 and 2017-18 men’s basketball seasons and includes one Level I allegation and three Level II allegations. The issuance of the Notice comes after a nearly two-year long investigation by the NCAA enforcement staff into Adidas schools Louisville, Kansas and N.C. State stemming from the FBI investigation that became public in September 2017. Kansas and N.C State previously received their Notices.

Through Adidas executive Jim Gatto and runners Merl Code, Christian Dawkins and T.J. Gassnola, Adidas attempted to pay Brian Bowen Sr. $100,000 in exchange for the commitment of his son, Brian Bowen Jr., also known as “Tugs,” to Louisville. In the end, Bowen Sr. did not get the full $100,000 and only received $25,000, according to Gassnola. Gassnola testified that he never told Pitino about the payments, and Pitino, now the head coach at Iona, has insisted he never knew.

Prosecutors in first Adidas trial in the fall of 2018 said that then-Louisville associate head coach Kenny Johnson gave $1,300 to Brian Bowen Sr, and that then assistant Jordan Fair gave $900 to a different recruit. Bowen Sr. testified that Johnson, currently at La Salle, gave him $1,300 in cash on Aug. 23, 2017 to help defray his family’s rent at the Galt House in Louisville after Bowen Jr. committed there in June 2017. Johnson has denied the claim.

Bowen never played a single game for Louisville, or any college, and now plays for the Indiana Pacers G League team.

The allegations issued against the Louisville men’s basketball program include:

·      A Level I allegation that an improper recruiting offer, and subsequent extra benefits to the family of an enrolled student athlete; and a recruiting inducement to a prospective student-athlete’s non-scholastic coach/trainer, were provided by certain individuals, purportedly identified and defined by the NCAA as “representatives of the university’s athletics interests”, none of whom had traditional connections to the University beyond their affiliation with Adidas or professional athlete management entities, as well as by a former assistant coach and a former associate head coach;

·      A Level II allegation of recruiting violations by the same two former men’s basketball coaching staff members in providing impermissible transportation and having impermissible contact in the context of recruitment-related activities;

·      A Level II allegation that the institution failed to adequately monitor the recruitment of an incoming, high-profile student-athlete;

·      A Level II 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;

In a press release, Louisville said: “It is important to remember that these are allegations—not facts—and the University will diligently prepare a full and comprehensive response and, absent an unforeseen development, submit it within the prescribed ninety-day period. For those allegations that are proven to be factual, the University 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. U of L has a right and a responsibility to stand up for itself when faced with unfair or unfounded charges and will always act in the best interests of the institution. Our legal team has begun the process of reviewing the Notice and will prepare a thorough response on behalf of the University.”

Said current Louisville coach Chris Mack: “Since arriving at Louisville, I have seen up close the incredible changes that have taken place under the leadership of President Bendapudi and Director of Athletics Vince Tyra in our university and in our athletics department. The shared values and commitment to integrity is evident in their actions and has always been demanded in the programs that my staff and I have led. While I understand the allegations brought today, I am confident that the University will do what is right, which includes fighting back on those charges that we simply do not agree with, and for which the facts do not substantiate. The future is bright for Cardinal Basketball. Our focus will continue to be on our tremendous student-athletes.”