Last week, as the Rick Pitino story was reaching its media crescendo in the national media, many believed that the University of Louisville was likely to fire him because of the morals clause in his contract with the school.
Obviously, that did not happen.
University President James Ramsey and Athletic Director Tom Jurich pointedly supported their coach as he issued an apology to the University, his family, and the basketball team’s fans.
Now, thanks to the ‘Ville Voice, we also know what Ramsey communicated to his faculty later in the week, in an effort to mollify those who were upset about the negative publicity that Pitino’s actions brought to the school.
Here’s the President’s letter:
Dear Colleagues,
We were just beginning to recover from the historic flooding on campus when I received a media inquiry late Tuesday night. A reporter had received a copy of a police report which contained information about our basketball coach’s actions six years ago.
I was unaware of some of that information. I spent Wednesday morning gathering facts and discussing possible responses to these new developments with Provost Shirley Willihnganz and other administration officials.
I considered a wide range of options in dealing with Coach Pitino’s errors in judgment and their impact on our university. I discussed these options with Athletics Director Tom Jurich Wednesday afternoon. In the end, I told Coach Pitino that he needed to publicly apologize to the university community for his actions. He has done that.
He has admitted his mistakes and promised not to have similar errors in judgment in the future. Throughout his life, he has had a tremendous positive impact on thousands of young people’s lives, our community and our state. He deserves a second chance and I have given my support to him.
It is time for our university family to move on to the challenges ahead, and there are several. Many of you are still working in cramped office space after being displaced by the flood. Fall classes begin in eleven days and our quests for cures and groundbreaking research must continue.
I appreciate your hard work and ask for your continued support toward making the University of Louisville a great university.
Jim
Of course, not everyone agrees that Ramsey made the right decision in keeping Pitino around.There is undoubtedly more fallout to come, but for now, it looks like things have quieted down on this topic.
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