Ex-Louisville Coach Rick Pitino Sues Adidas For Unspecified Damages

Rick Pitino is retaliating at Adidas following one of the largest scandals in collegiate sports history.

Rick Pitino Adidas lawsuit news

The former Louisville basketball coach filed a lawsuit against the sports apparel giant Tuesday, claiming unspecified damages, including punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.

Pitino, 65, was fired by the Cardinals on Monday amid an FBI investigation into bribery and fraud actions that aimed to steer recruits to Adidas and other specific sponsors, agents, financial advisers and basketball programs.

The FBI allegations against Louisville include payments of $100,000 from an assistant coach to the family of an unnamed player to sign with the Cardinals.

Pitino — who had been in charge of Louisville’s basketball program since 2001 — has denied any involvement in the scandal.

“In today’s lawsuit, Coach Pitino swears that he had nothing to do with, and no knowledge of, the Adidas conspiracy,” said Steve Pence, Pitino’s attorney.

The coach has even cited a lie detector test he took earlier this month as proof that he had “no knowledge” of the aforementioned payment to the Louisville recruit’s family. The player is believed to be five-star freshman Brian Bowen, who signed with the Cardinals in June. Bowen was suspended indefinitely shortly after the FBI revealed the findings of its probe.

PItino said he was asked two questions as part of the test: “Did you have any knowledge of the Bowen family getting any money? Did you have any knowledge of an Adidas transaction?’

According to MSN, Pitino could lose the $44 million left in salary and bonuses on his contract with Louisville through the 2025-26 season because he was terminated with cause. Per USA Today, he was the highest-paid coach in college basketball this year at $7.8 million.

Pitino had already been placed on probation for a controversy involving strippers and escorts hired to entertain recruits and other players in dorm rooms — another scandal he has refuted any participation in.

Louisville put assistant coaches Kenny Johnson and Jordan Fair on paid administrative leave earlier this month, and Fair was then dismissed.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reported last month that Pitino received 98 percent of the cash — approximately $1.5 million annually for five years — that the Cardinals earned from their expiring apparel deal with Adidas.

Pitino is a Hall of Fame coach who went 416-143 in his 16 seasons in charge at Louisville.

LOUISVILLE, KY – MAY 04: Coach Rick Pitino attends the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)