Every time someone speaks on behalf of former Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich, it tarnishes his legacy just a bit more.
Lonnie Ali. Dr. Mark Lynn. Jim Patterson. Highly respected members of the community and, at one point or another, serious financial backers of the university, have been incredibly vocal about their support to bring Jurich back.
But, at what point are those who care about Louisville Athletics and the city as a whole supposed to feel that the movement- which gained little traction- is about the university and not themselves?
When massive donors like “Papa” John Schnatter, Lynn, Patterson, and others pledged money to UofL, it was understood that they did so for the sake of the student-athletes that represent their school and ardent supporters who flock to stadiums- many of which bear their namesake. The withholding of pledged money to the university’s athletic department and ensuing pleads for Jurich to skip over the process of being vetted altogether and assume his former position with little-to-no restrictions not only reek of desperation but sadness.
Let me be clear: less than a decade ago, Jurich should have been in line to have a statue constructed in his honor somewhere on Floyd Street. I wrote as much at the time of his firing.
Jurich was a superstar as an AD. He was an unreal fundraiser. A tremendous leader. A boss who instilled a healthy fear in those around him, but, by all accounts, an exemplary man to work for.
The laundry list of Jurich’s accomplishments and the accomplishments of the programs he oversaw is far too long to read off, but here are some of the highlights.
Jurich revamped every facility on campus, giving the university world-class venues in every sport. Freedom Hall, which housed Louisville basketball for decades in the middle of the Kentucky fairgrounds was vacated for the sparkling KFC Yum Center! the best college arena in the country. The Yum Center revitalized downtown Louisville for decades to come. Cardinal Stadium, a condemned and, now, excavated astroturf minor league ballpark was left behind for the new Cardinal Stadium- The largest all-chair-back college stadium in the country. Jim Patterson Stadium was constructed and is amid its second expansion. Lynn Stadium is the finest example of a college soccer stadium in the country. L&N Arena, Ulmer Stadium, University of Louisville Golf Club, and so many more have single-handily turned a commuter school into a destination location.
Jurich overhauled UofL’s women’s sports, emphasizing and leading the way for the NCAA Title IX charge. UnderJurich, women’s basketball became a powerhouse. The same can be said for baseball, soccer, swimming and diving, women’s volleyball, and so much more.
Jurich’s programs won multiple national titles, BCS championships, and dozens of conference titles under his tutelage. Louisville athletics continue to reach new heights each year in his absence which would not have been possible without his leadership.
Louisville Athletics was Tom Jurich. And he should be heralded for his accomplishments.
However, in 2022, you cannot mention all of the great things Jurich accomplished without also reflecting on the smoldering pile of hot garbage he left in his wake.
Jurich did make mistakes. He did sign Steve Kragthorpe and Bobby Petrino (a second time) to bafflingly short-sighted contracts.
There were financial stumbles along the way. He trusted people he shouldn’t have. He gave far too generously to keep coaches in place and facilities afloat.
Obviously, however, his greatest blunder was his handling of multiple NCAA violations by the men’s basketball program.
Through an embarrassing sex scandal and extortion scandal, a “stripper” and impermissible benefits scandal, and a pay-for-play scandal, Jurich stood by former Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, leading to the termination of both employees.
Louisville had to pay Jurich big-time on his way out. The University paid a lump sum of $4.5 million to him in 2018 and will continue to pay him $220,000 a year through the fiscal year 2025. In exchange, Jurich agreed that he would not disparage UofL in any way going forward.
So, Jurich is getting paid by the university to not do any work. He sued the university for wrongful termination and settled for eight years of digging the school he claimed to love into a deeper financial hole. He takes no responsibility for the blunders that happened under his watch…
And he wanted back in the game, too?
Louisville interim president Lori Stewart Gonzolez confirmed as much on Friday morning at the introductory press conference for new Athletic Director Josh Heird.
This comes, of course, after a barrage of questions from reporters there to cover the hiring of a different AD. And the questions only arose because a group of his influential, but seemingly brainwashed cronies cannot seem to let go of the past.
After a billboard campaign that had to have cost well into the six-figure range failed, the group of influential city leaders (John Ramsey, also) released (emailed to Terry Meiners? Who posted it on Facebook?) a word salad of a “statement” that garnered more attention for the usage of the (definitely not a) word “shouldoria” than the apparent outrage that it struggled to convey any real reason for. The words read more like that of a petulant child who didn’t get its way in the grocery store than those of three well-respected leaders of the community.
That’s two billionaires and the widow of one of the greatest athletes of all-time paying (likely) a decent sum of money for someone to put together two paragraphs that read more like a deranged ransom note than a supposed “committee”.
We can get into exactly how wrong they were about the vetting process, which Jurich refused to adhere to, or the fact that they called the former emperor of athletics “transparent”.
However, the reality is that the letter itself and the campaign as a whole is shameful, downright embarrassing, and sad.
In the letter, the triumvirate of desolation says that it wants what is best for the university… Then goes on a few sentences later to be completely hateful towards Heird, suggesting that perhaps he is better suited for a lower-level job.
Heird himself spent a considerable amount of time taking the high road in his presser on Friday, praising Jurich- A man who he had a falling out with before moving to Villanova.
Meanwhile, Jurich himself is nowhere to be found. Lurking in the shadows of a depleting group of tone-deaf rich people instead of speaking for himself (as he so often did during his two-decade tenure).
Jurich banked on a group of people who no longer give money to the university having any sort of pull.
The reality is that there are more people with money and power in Louisville than Jurich’s pals. Like Rick Keuber of Planet Fitness and Sun Tan City. Like Wes Henderson of Angel’s Envy. And many others.
UofL called his bluff. And although the university will pay him $880,000 over the next four years, there wasn’t a shot in hell he was getting another dime from an athletic department that is still waiting to have the hammer dropped by its governing body. A punishment that will happen because of a multitude of issues that happened under his leadership.
Mr. Jurich could have been etched in Bronze on Floyd Street for years to come. But his ego, and the egos of his close circle, are preventing him from being remembered as anything but an annoyance.
Two reasons not to hire Jurich. Kragthorpe and Petrino 2.
Jurich didn’t build Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. That was already in the works when he was hired.
This article didn’t age well.
Did not know that Jurich is being payed 220 thousand a year by the University to stay quite. Just wow The city of louisville should have combined the football and basketball arenas and built a dome. If you build it they will come. BIG NO ON JURICH !!!!!