Rick Pitino: "I Will Not Resign"

Rick Pitino said in a statement today that he will not resign as Louisville men’s basketball coach, as the university and the NCAA investigate allegations that the school held parties with strippers and prostitutes to entice recruits.

The claims were first made in a book by a former escort, and supported by former players and recruits. Pitino hasn’t said much about the allegations, but has stated multiple times that if something was going on, he wasn’t aware of it.

In a post on his blog today—a brief season preview—Pitino briefly addresses his immediate future at Louisville.

First, above all, I’m sorry we all have to endure the pain of these allegations. I so appreciate your support and friendships.

I will not resign and let you down. Someday I will walk away in celebration of many memorable years but that time is not now. I do not fight these accusations by others but rather turn the other cheek. Couldn’t do it at 33, but at 63 it’s the wise thing to do. Let’s let the investigators do their job and we will play basketball.

Pitino closes his blog post by citing the Pope, though I’m fairly certain the original quote wasn’t specifically in reference to stripper parties.