Ex-Louisville men's basketball assistant coach Dino Gaudio federally charged with extortion

Former Louisville assistant men's basketball coach Dino Gaudio has been federally charged with extortion.

According to documents, on March 17, during an in-person meeting with Louisville personnel, Gaudio threatened to report to the media allegations that the men's basketball program had violated NCAA rules in its production of recruiting videos and the use of graduate assistants in practice unless the university paid his salary an additional 17 months or provided an equivalent lump sum.

Per the documents, Gaudio sent a text message to school personnel containing one of the recruiting videos he threatened to send to the media.

Gaudio's threat came after he and ex-assistant Luke Murray's contracts were not renewed when they expired at the end of April.

Head coach Chris Mack had extensive history with both coaches, and he went back more than three decades with Gaudio from time at Xavier, Wake Forest and Louisville. Mack played at Xavier when Gaudio was an assistant under Pete Gillen.

Mack said Monday in a news conference announcing staffing updates that both men were excellent coaches and the decision to part ways was not easy, but he believed the program needed a fresh perspective.

Louisville is coming off a disappointing COVID-19-interrupted season, finishing 13-7 (8-5 in the ACC) and missing the NCAA tournament.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Dino Gaudio, ex-Louisville hoops assistant, charged with extortion