Louisville's Rick Pitino reportedly 'Coach-2' identified in FBI report

Rick Pitino may have been a direct player in the pay-for-play scandal that brought a recruit to the University of Louisville.

According to sources cited by CBS, ABC (via ESPN) and the Wall Street Journal, Pitino is the “Coach-2” listed in the FBI investigation into the scandal. According to criminal complaints filed this week, this coach played a direct role in recruiting Brian Bowen to Louisville because he allegedly asked an AAU coach to pay Bowen money so he could play the university.

Court records also indicate that “Coach-2” spoke with Adidas executive Jim Gatto several times in the days leading up to Bowen's commitment to Louisville.

Asked Thursday about reports that Pitino is “Coach-2,” attorney Steve Pence told WDRB only that there has been a “rush to judgment” in recent days and “we're going to let the case take its legal course”.

The allegation stems from a closed-door meeting between Christian Dawkins, a former ASM Sports agent; Jonathan Brad Augustine, director of a Florida-based AAU program and undercover FBI agent. In the meeting recorded by FBI cameras, the three men discuss how to pay Bowen $100,000 for his commitment to the Cardinals.

Adidas reportedly had trouble getting the money to Bowen, so they were discussing routing payment through Augustine's AAU program.

Augustine then reportedly added, “Nobody throws a bigger d- than (Coach-2) at (Adidas)” and added “all (Coach-2) has to do is pick up the phone and call someone 'one (and say), 'These are my guys; they take care of us.'”

Pitino has vehemently denied any knowledge of wrongdoing.

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“These allegations come as a complete shock to me,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “If true, I agree with the U.S. Attorney's Office that these third-party schemes, initiated by a few bad actors, were intended to commit fraud on the affected universities and their basketball programs, including the University of Louisville, our fans and supporters deserve better, and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”

Pitino was placed on unpaid leave Wednesday, with his lawyer acknowledging that the coach had been “effectively terminated” by the university. However, the school must give 10 days' notice before officially terminating him due to the terms of his contract.