Friends of the Ville

LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL

June 21, 2017

Dear Friends of the Ville

I am writing to you as close supporters and Friends of the Ville members. You are
special to me and I realize you have endured a lot over the last two years. When the
news first came out in 2015, it sunk my emotions to the lowest point anyone could
possibly imagine. I write this letter to tell you and encourage you to keep your
spirits high.

First and foremost, I believe that the truth will prevail and justice will be served. We
hired Chuck Smrt to guide us through this process. As an exNCAA enforcement
staff member, Chuck directed us on what to do immediately based on the findings of
the NCAA enforcement staff and we did exactly what he directed. We took away a
chance to possibly go to a Final Four and win a National Championship. We were
ranked 11th at the time with an experienced team, and imposed scholarship
reductions and limited recruiting contacts. Based on the nature of what one of our
exemployees did, the committee penalized us beyond reason for the charges that
were presented against us.

Let me clear up the following and leave no doubt that this is the truth and the only
truth:
Billy Minardi Hall was built in memory of my best friend and brotherinlaw
who I lost on 9/11. If I knew of anything that was going on there that would
dishonor his name, that person wouldnt be able to get out of town fast
enough.
I was told during the process that I didnt ask pointed questions. Well what
does that mean exactly? I asked our staff if the recruits enjoyed themselves.
What did they do? How did they like everything? I then met with their
families for breakfast and asked the same questions. No, I did not ask the
staff if they saw any strippers last night. I can assure you that if I asked Andre
any difficult question, he would have lied to my face to avoid immediate
termination.

For background, I was coaching the Puerto Rican National team in Mexico when
reports of the book first broke. I tried calling Andre to see if this was true. He
wouldnt answer. I then called Kareem Richardson, my exassistant and Andres
boss. I asked Kareem to get Andre on the phone with him (Kareem was the Head
Coach of UMKC and Andre was his assistant). I got right to the point: Did you have
nonstudents in our dorm? His response was a girl that he was dating brought one of
her daughters and her friends and they listened to music with the guys. I then asked
who is this woman you are dating? He said he met her at a convention. I then asked
what does she do? His response after months of reflection was absurd. He said she is
a party planner. I exploded on the phone, I said you brought girls into a dorm to
listen to music because you were dating a party planner? Mike Balado was sitting
next to me, I was yelling so loud that I started to feel sick. I hung up and he swore to
me that nothing improper happened and that they were just listening to music. I
called back and asked Kareem did he believe him? His response was why would he
lie, the truth will come out. I then spoke to Kenny Klein and he told me that the
reports within the book did not say they were just listening to music.

I bring this story up because that was a phone call where I was 1500 miles away. Did
the NCAA enforcement staff believe that Andre would ever tell me the truth if we
were face to face? Absolutely not. He would have lied and lie some more. He knew
how much that dorm meant to me. He knew how sickened I would be by his actions.

Bernie Madoff fooled the smartest people on Wall Street, SEC, family, brokers and
major hedge funds. There are no questions that I asked to even give me a small clue
to what was going on. Security employees, managers, assistant coaches, fellow
students and most importantly, Billy Minardis children, and my nephews, all lived
in that dorm. They were all questioned by me, and not one had any suspicion of any
inappropriate activities going on in that dormitory.

I am not concerned about the outside world and what they think. My players,
coaches and employees who have worked with me for years know how I am with
rules and total compliance to the NCAA. I write this to our fans to keep your heads
high and believe that the appeals committee will get it right and our values will
continue to instill the right things in our student athletes.

Over twelve years ago, I hurt my wife and family by doing some improper things. I
paid a heavy price with them and The Lord. We, as a family, are closer today than
ever before and my faith is stronger than at any point in my life. Im in this game for
one reason, and only for one reason: to teach young men how to reach their
potential on and off the court.

You, our loyal Louisville family, can rest assured we believe in doing the right thing
and doing things that are important in the eyes of God.



Rick Pitino


Cardinal Basketball 2432 South Floyd Street Louisville, KY 40209