Ex-Louisville Basketball Assistant Coach Dino Gaudio Facing Extortion Charges

Dino Gaudio has found himself in trouble with the federal authorities.

The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Kentucky announced that the former Louisville assistant coach had been charged with one federal count of extortion against the school, in the form of money and other valuable assets. Gaudio reportedly threatened members of Louisville staff in a meeting on March 17, telling them he would “report to the media allegations that the University of Louisville men’s basketball program had violated [NCAA] rules in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and its use of graduate assistants in practice, unless the University of Louisville paid [Gaudio] his salary for an additional 17 months or provided the lump sum equivalent of 17 months of salary.” Later that day, Gaudio confirmed to Louisville that he was in fact able to expose them, sending a text which contained one of the recruiting videos. Since this text traveled outside of the state of Kentucky, Gaudio is being charged with interstate communication with intent to extort.

Gaudio’s attempt to extort the university began when he was notified that his contract would not be renewed. He had spent three seasons with the program under head coach Chris Mack. Gaudio earned his first head coaching job in 2007 at Wake Forest, where he amassed a record of 61-31 over three seasons, reaching the NCAA tournament twice. He then became a college basketball analyst at ESPN, working there until 2018 when he joined Louisville’s staff. After being unable to make the NCAA tournament the past two seasons, Louisville’s coaching staff underwent changes, which included the firing of Gaudio as well as assistant Luke Murray.

Under federal law, Gaudio could face up to two years in prison, and is eligible for probation.