Louisville basketball head coach Chris Mack has been hit with a six-game, unpaid suspension for the 2021-22 season, the university announced on Friday.
The suspension will span from Nov. 8-Nov. 27 and cover six non-conference games, including two during the Cardinals’ early-season tournament in the Bahamas. During that time, Mack will be unable to engage in any contact with the men’s basketball coaching staff or student athletes. He will forfeit around $221,000 throughout the suspension.
“The university concluded that while Mack was a victim of an extortion attempt, Mack failed to follow university guidelines, policies and procedures in handling the matter,” the school said, per Louisville insider Jeff Greer.
Louisville coach Chris Mack will be suspended for 6 games this season, U of L announced.
“The university concluded that while Mack was a victim of an extortion attempt” by Dino Gaudio, “Mack failed to follow university guidelines, policies and procedures in handling the matter”
— Jeff Greer (@jeffgreer) August 27, 2021
“As I have said since the beginning of my tenure, we have high expectations for all of our staff members and coaches and we hold people accountable for their actions,” U of L Vice President/Director of Athletics Vince Tyra said, per SportsIllustrated. “While we have made great strides over the last four years in changing the culture in our Department of Athletics, we cannot afford to have any setbacks, no matter how big or small, in our pursuits. I am confident that Coach Mack now understands the impact of his actions. We all have confidence in him moving forward. I am grateful for the partnership and support of President Bendapudi in this matter.”
Earlier this summer, ex-Louisville basketball assistant Dino Gaudio pleaded guilty to a federal charge of attempted extortion. After Mack failed to extend his contract, Gaudio allegedly threatened to go to the press with multiple alleged NCAA violations: production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and use of its graduate assistants in practices.
Gaudio insisted that he be paid 17 months of salary or a $425,000 lump sum payment, enough to carry him through his planned retirement in 2022.
While Mack was the victim of this crime, he apparently failed to follow university guidelines in the handling of the matter.
He accepted his punishment in a statement earlier today.
“I regret that any of my unintentional actions or failures to follow University guidelines have brought unnecessary attention to our outstanding athletics programs and University,” Mack said. “I understand that I could have handled matters differently and therefore I accept this suspension. While it will kill me to be away from our basketball family in November, I will do everything possible to set them up for success before and after my time away, and I am fully confident that our coaches, staff and student-athletes will rise to the occasion.”
The post Louisville Announces Punishment For Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Mack appeared first on The Spun.
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