LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino on Wednesday apologized for his "indiscretion" of having sex with a woman who later was charged with trying to extort him and vowed to continue coaching the Cardinals for as long as "they will have me."
His comments were the first since news broke Tuesday that he told police that he and Karen Sypher had sex on a table at a Louisville restaurant six years ago.
Two weeks later, the married father of five gave Sypher $3,000 after she said she needed an abortion and didn't have health insurance, according to a summary of Pitino's July 12 statement to police. His attorney said the money was to help her get medical coverage, not specifically to pay for an abortion.
"I do want to say that the past seven months have been very difficult on the people I love," Pitino said. "I am here today because I personally apologize to my family every single day. I let them down with my indiscretion six years ago and I'm sorry for that and I tell them that every day."
He said he would "be quiet" about the extortion case, but that he is cooperating with authorities and has consistently told them, his family and friends the truth. He did not take questions.
University of Louisville Presi-dent James Ramsey expressed surprise at the new details in the scandal surrounding the coach, a staunch Roman Catholic whose contract includes dishonesty and "moral depravity" as grounds for firing.
"Several months ago, Coach Pitino informed me about the alleged extortion attempt. I've now been informed that there may be other details which, if true, I find surprising," Ramsey said in a statement, adding that his thoughts were with the Pitino family.
Pitino finished his eighth season with the Cardinals, leading them to a 31-6 record and the Big East regular-season and tournament titles. The Cardinals lost to Michigan State in the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament.
"I don't believe in anything as much as I believe in this university and this state," Pitino said. "So as long as they will have me, as long as they'll have me, I'm going to coach here."
Despite Ramsey's surprise at the new details, the school's athletic director, Tom Jurich, said in a statement that "Coach Pitino has been truthful with us about this matter all along and we stand by him and his family during this process."
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
