The list of scandals at the University of Louisville in the last few years is nothing short or remarkable. There are so many it's easy to forget most of them. Individual episodes that would be shocking in isolation simply get lost in the shuffle (it occurs to me, maybe this is smart PR!). I tried to list them all, just out of curiosity and a few minutes to kill. 90% of this list comes from an article last summer in the CJ. But there were a few since, and a few prior to that time that weren't included. Here's what I came up with - any come to mind that I am forgetting? Tried to keep each to a single line item for simplicity's sake, otherwise it's overwhelming. heh.
U of L Scandals & Black Eyes
September 2007: Jurich personally vouches for LB Willie Williams, who is then kicked off team after arrest.
February 2008: CB Rod Council arrested for armed robbery with Uzi.
October 2008: Education Dean Robert Felner indicted on federal financial fraud charges.
October 2009: Rick Pitino restaurant sex with stranger/abortion scandal erupts.
October 2009: Jerry Smith & Terrence Jennings subdued by Taser, charged with assault, disorderly conduct
September 2010: Former baseball player Howes shoots/kills former football player Covington.
February 2011: Alisha Ward fired for stealing $463k from Equine Program.
October 2011: Kerry Johnson, athletic office manager, indicted for stealing $100k.
May 2011: Susan DeWitt, chemistry department business manager, indicted for stealing $70k.
July 2013: Asst. Law Dean Brandon Hamilton is indicted for stealing $2.4 million.
October 2013: Jurich vows to keep Clint Hurtt despite 2 year show cause penalty from NCAA.
January 2014: SI cover story “Appalled at Petrino Hiring: Louisville shows it only cares about winning”.
March 2014: Hush-money pay-offs to VPs Curtin, Owsley & Hibbs ($570k).
March 2014: Accrediting body places Medical School on probation.
April 2014: Perry Vaughn, director in Med School, indicted for stealing $2.8 million.
April 2014: Hush-money pay-off to former general counsel Koshewa ($350k).
June 2014: School refuses to release findings of internal control audit.
November 2014: Cheerleader dies of heroin overdose in football dorm.
January 2015: Former player sues school, Coach Strong for injuries in locker-room beating.
February 2015: Chris Jones dismissed from basketball team after charges of rape, sodomy.
May 2015: Ramsey, Willinhnganz, Smith paid $5.5 million deferred comp from Foundation.
July 2015: Ramsey comp ($1.7 million) 2.5 times ACC average, UofL last place academically.
August 2015: Kentucky Supreme Court finds UofL athletics liable for sexual harassment ($371,000).
October 2015: Ramsey and staff pose for a photo at a Halloween party in Hispanic costumes.
October 2015: Katina Powell publishes #HookersinDorms book, NCAA investigation.
October 2015: SI cover story “Louisville Athletics Is Dangerous Culture for Women”.
October 2015: Fox Sports cover story “Louisville’s Rogue Athletics Department.”
November 2015: Deborah Dietzler, alumni relations, fired for using school funds for personal use.
December 2015: Dunn/Hancock/Bessette fired from health sciences dept. for theft of $7.6 million.
December 2015: VP Darrell A. Griffith, DUI forced leave of absence.
January 2016: Charlie Strong involved in affair, divorce of trustee.
February 2016: In response to #HookersinDorms, Louisville self-imposes post-season ban.
June 2016: Bevin fires and replaces Board of Trustees.
July 2016: Jim Ramsey is forced to resign immediately, receives $700,000 payout.
November 2016: SI: “Louisville's ethics in question again with handling of Wake Forest scandal.”
December 2016: Two UofL football players and a cheerleader shot at party.
January 2017: Accrediting body places university on academic probation.
June 2017: NCAA vacates ’12 Final Four and ’13 title.
June 2017: Foundation audit reveals “disturbing picture of financial excess and secrecy”.
2010 & Ongoing: Sweetheart YUM! Center Lease. Arena Authority (meaning taxpayers!) loses $17 million annually; school profits $27 million annually. Louisville Metro Councilman Bill Hollander: "the lease has amounted to a transfer of funds from the taxpayers of the city to the University of Louisville Athletics Association."
U of L Scandals & Black Eyes
September 2007: Jurich personally vouches for LB Willie Williams, who is then kicked off team after arrest.
February 2008: CB Rod Council arrested for armed robbery with Uzi.
October 2008: Education Dean Robert Felner indicted on federal financial fraud charges.
October 2009: Rick Pitino restaurant sex with stranger/abortion scandal erupts.
October 2009: Jerry Smith & Terrence Jennings subdued by Taser, charged with assault, disorderly conduct
September 2010: Former baseball player Howes shoots/kills former football player Covington.
February 2011: Alisha Ward fired for stealing $463k from Equine Program.
October 2011: Kerry Johnson, athletic office manager, indicted for stealing $100k.
May 2011: Susan DeWitt, chemistry department business manager, indicted for stealing $70k.
July 2013: Asst. Law Dean Brandon Hamilton is indicted for stealing $2.4 million.
October 2013: Jurich vows to keep Clint Hurtt despite 2 year show cause penalty from NCAA.
January 2014: SI cover story “Appalled at Petrino Hiring: Louisville shows it only cares about winning”.
March 2014: Hush-money pay-offs to VPs Curtin, Owsley & Hibbs ($570k).
March 2014: Accrediting body places Medical School on probation.
April 2014: Perry Vaughn, director in Med School, indicted for stealing $2.8 million.
April 2014: Hush-money pay-off to former general counsel Koshewa ($350k).
June 2014: School refuses to release findings of internal control audit.
November 2014: Cheerleader dies of heroin overdose in football dorm.
January 2015: Former player sues school, Coach Strong for injuries in locker-room beating.
February 2015: Chris Jones dismissed from basketball team after charges of rape, sodomy.
May 2015: Ramsey, Willinhnganz, Smith paid $5.5 million deferred comp from Foundation.
July 2015: Ramsey comp ($1.7 million) 2.5 times ACC average, UofL last place academically.
August 2015: Kentucky Supreme Court finds UofL athletics liable for sexual harassment ($371,000).
October 2015: Ramsey and staff pose for a photo at a Halloween party in Hispanic costumes.
October 2015: Katina Powell publishes #HookersinDorms book, NCAA investigation.
October 2015: SI cover story “Louisville Athletics Is Dangerous Culture for Women”.
October 2015: Fox Sports cover story “Louisville’s Rogue Athletics Department.”
November 2015: Deborah Dietzler, alumni relations, fired for using school funds for personal use.
December 2015: Dunn/Hancock/Bessette fired from health sciences dept. for theft of $7.6 million.
December 2015: VP Darrell A. Griffith, DUI forced leave of absence.
January 2016: Charlie Strong involved in affair, divorce of trustee.
February 2016: In response to #HookersinDorms, Louisville self-imposes post-season ban.
June 2016: Bevin fires and replaces Board of Trustees.
July 2016: Jim Ramsey is forced to resign immediately, receives $700,000 payout.
November 2016: SI: “Louisville's ethics in question again with handling of Wake Forest scandal.”
December 2016: Two UofL football players and a cheerleader shot at party.
January 2017: Accrediting body places university on academic probation.
June 2017: NCAA vacates ’12 Final Four and ’13 title.
June 2017: Foundation audit reveals “disturbing picture of financial excess and secrecy”.
2010 & Ongoing: Sweetheart YUM! Center Lease. Arena Authority (meaning taxpayers!) loses $17 million annually; school profits $27 million annually. Louisville Metro Councilman Bill Hollander: "the lease has amounted to a transfer of funds from the taxpayers of the city to the University of Louisville Athletics Association."
Last edited:
