The Louisville Cardinals have returned to their former basketball glory, but they can’t seem to escape the shadow of Rick Pitino. The legendary coach continues to make headlines attached to the Cardinals’ name. The former college hoops coach and Adidas have settled their federal lawsuit that steamed from the 2018 FBI Investigation.
BREAKING: Rick Pitino reaches a settlement with Adidas, the company he alleges contributed to his ultimate downfall at Louisville. https://t.co/RHk7jj0w3y
— Courier Journal Sports (@sports_cj) December 23, 2019
The athletic shoe company released the following statement. “Adidas and Coach Pitino have entered into a confidential settlement agreement resolving all matters between them, over sixteen years working with Adidas, Coach Pitino demonstrated his passion for the game of basketball and his commitment to excellence both on and off the court. We wish Coach Pitino the best in his new role as head coach of Panathinaikos, the Greek national team and any future endeavors.”
The arbitration period came after a federal judge threw the case out and ruled that the two parties would have to settle with each other in arbitration. Rick Pitino filed the lawsuit after he was fired from Louisville and he accused Adidas of “outrageous conduct” and “extreme embarrassment”. The details of the agreement are confidential and the exact details will likely never be known.
The Louisville Cardinals are hoping to move on from its past and the several scandals brought on in the Rick Pitino era. The team has rebuilt and is back on top under the guidance of new head coach Chris Mack. Their troubles may not be quite over though because some expect that the NCAA will be handing down a Notice of Allegations to the school in the coming months. The drama from the FBI Investigation may not be over just yet for Louisville.
