Louisville coach says he won’t resign amid ‘strip club’ atmosphere allegations

Rick Pitino issued a statement Thursday apologizing to Louisville fans for the negativity around the program since allegations of sex and stripping for recruits were raised by a self-described escort.

"First, above all, I'm sorry we all have to endure the pain of these allegations. I so appreciate your support and friendships," Pitino said. "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 said he was unaware of the parties allegedly organized and paid for by a graduate assistant coach.

Former escort Katina Powell said former Louisville graduate assistant coach Andre McGee paid her a total of $10,000 to bring dancers to campus to strip and even have sex with some recruits or their guardians.

Powell told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that McGee, currently on administrative leave from his job as assistant men's basketball coach at Missouri-Kansas City, approached her about "side deals" with current players and some recruits or their guardians.

Those deals included stripping and performing sex acts, Powell said.

One player recruited by Louisville told ESPN "It was like I was in a strip club."

A former Louisville player told ESPN that McGee gave him $1 bills to tip dancers. The player also said McGee paid for one of the dancers to have sex with him.