Louisville receives no postseason ban, minor penalties in IARP case

Louisville has gotten off easy in its pay-for-play scandal first uncovered back in 2017.

The NCAA’s Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) has handed down its ruling to the Cardinals, with the program receiving no postseason ban, a $5,000 fine, a small reduction in recruiting days and two years of probation.

Rick Pitino and Chris Mack will not be punished for their respective involvements.

Former Louisville assistant Kenny Johnson, now at Rhode Island with Archie Miller, has been hit with a two-year show-cause that will keep him off the recruiting trail. Fellow former assistant Jordan Fair also earned a two-year show-cause.

Louisville faced one Level I violation and six Level II violations for alleged recruiting infractions, including offering $100,000 for five-star prospect Brian Bowen through Adidas. The school first received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA in May 2020, but it was amended in October 2021 to include infractions that came to light in the extortion attempt by former UL assistant Dino Gaudio. Pitino, Louisville’s coach at the time of the pay-for-play scandal, was fired along with athletic director Tom Jurich, but still faced a Level II charge in the case.

It’s the third ruling the IARP has handed down, with Louisville joining Memphis and NC State following their individual pay-for-pay scandals. All three received slaps on the wrist.

Back in 2017, the NCAA forced Louisville to vacate all wins from December 2010 to April 2014 — including the 2013 National Championship — for paying prostitutes to dance for and have sex with players and recruits. Despite the school’s status as a repeat offender while on probation, the IARP clearly felt the Cardinals’ previous penalties were enough.

Guess that’s what happens when it takes five years to come up with a punishment.