Louisville AD: Hurtt to stay on staff

By foxsports
Published

Louisville's athletic director is keeping assistant coach Clint Hurtt on the Cardinals football staff while he answers NCAA allegations of ethical misconduct while coaching at Miami.

Athletic director Tom Jurich said Thursday he doesn't see a need to change Hurtt's role or status with the program right now, but that he couldn't say whether Hurtt will be with Louisville next season.

Hurtt has until May 20 to respond to the allegations and the AD said, ''We'll just wait until the 90 days are up and see what the resolution is through the NCAA.''

The NCAA notified Hurtt and the university on Tuesday of the violations the sports governing body believes he committed as a Hurricanes assistant. Hurtt is accused of providing false information during the organization's investigation of Miami.

It could take several months before the NCAA hands down any possible sanctions.

''Clint is due his due process,'' Jurich said. ''I think that's the only fair thing that we can do as a university. Clint's side of the story is much different than the allegations are so I think we wait the 90 days and see how it unfolds then.''

Hurtt, who played at Miami, was a Hurricanes assistant for eight seasons between 2001-09. He faces the ethical conduct charge known as NCAA Rule 10.1. The NCAA also believes he sent about 40 impermissible text messages to recruits, which typically is a secondary violation.

Jurich did not comment on the NCAA letter, saying that he hasn't had a chance to go through it ''piece by piece'' and doesn't know everything that's in it. But he said Hurtt is disputing many of the charges.

The Associated Press has reported that the NCAA alleges Hurtt provided meals, transportation and lodging to a small number of recruits, current players, or both. He was interviewed by the NCAA during the probe and allegedly denied providing those extra benefits, statements the NCAA said were contradicted by players.

Miami is facing the charge that it had a ''lack of institutional control'' - one of the worst things the NCAA can levy against a member school. The charge revolves around how the school allegedly failed to monitor the conduct of former booster and convicted felon Nevin Shapiro, a Ponzi scheme architect who provided cash, gifts and other items to players, coaches and recruits.