BREAKING: Former UofL assistant coach Dino Gaudio facing federal extortion charges

Former Louisville basketball assistant Dino Gaudio has been federally charged with extortion.

According to public federal documents, Gaudio allegedly threatened to expose numerous recruiting and on-campus violations to the media if he wasn’t paid 17 months of salary.

Former Assistant University of Louisville basketball coach Dino Gaudio has been federally charged with extortion

— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) May 18, 2021

Gaudio accused the Louisville program of violating NCAA rules in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes, along with the team’s use of graduate assistants in practices.

“On or about March 17, 2021, in the Western District of Kentucky, Jefferson County, Kentucky, and elsewhere, the defendant, DINO J. GAUDIO, knowingly transmitted in interstate commerce, with intent to extort money and other things of value from the University of Louisville, a threat to injure the reputation of the University of Louisville,” the public document reads. “On March 17, 2021, during an in-person meeting with University of Louisville personnel, defendant DINO J. GAUDIO threatened to report to the media allegations that the University of Louisville men’s basketball program had violated National College Athletic Association rules in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and in its use of graduate assistants in practices, unless the University of Louisville paid defendant DINO J. GAUDIO his salary for an additional 17 months or provided the lump sum equivalent of 17 months salary.”

“This afternoon, the United States Attorney’s Office of Western Kentucky charged former University of Louisville assistant men’s basketball coach Dino Gaudio with “interstate communication with intent to extort” related to the non-renewal of his contract with the University,” UofL said in a statement. “As detailed in the charging document, after Gaudio was informed that his contract would not be renewed, he threatened to inform members of the media of alleged NCAA violations within the men’s basketball program unless he was paid a significant sum of money. The allegations are the impermissible use of graduate managers in practices and workouts. While the University cannot comment further due to the ongoing federal investigation and the NCAA process, it continues to cooperate with authorities as well as with the NCAA on the matter.”

“While I cannot comment on the details or substance of the matter, I am grateful for the professionalism of members of law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office,” Louisville head coach Chris Mack added. “The University and I were the victims of Coach Gaudio’s conduct and I will continue to fully cooperate with authorities in their investigations. We takes seriously any allegation of NCAA violations within our basketball program and will work within the NCAA processes to fully review the allegations.”

Louisville basketball is the gift that keeps on giving.