'You may now exhale': How fans, experts are reacting to Louisville's NCAA penalties

Thursday ended five years of waiting for Louisville men's basketball fans, who learned the Cardinals will avoid a postseason ban and other major penalties in connection to a lengthy NCAA investigation into alleged violations under former head coaches Rick Pitino and Chris Mack.

The Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) hit U of L with:

• a $5,000 fine;

• a two-week ban on unofficial visits during the 2022-23 academic year;

• a two-week ban on recruiting communication (telephone and written correspondence) during the 2022-23 academic year;

• a seven-day reduction in the number of recruiting person days for the 2022-23 academic year;

• two years of probation, beginning Thursday and ending Nov. 2, 2024.

IARP decision:Louisville basketball won't face postseason ban in Adidas, Rick Pitino, Brian Bowen scandal

Both Pitino and Mack were not punished as a result of the IARP's investigation into seven alleged violations against Louisville, the most severe of which stemmed from the Cardinals' recruitment of former five-star prospect Brian Bowen. Pitino, now coaching at Iona University, addressed the IARP's ruling during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

U of L's interim President, Lori Stewart Gonzalez, and athletic director, Josh Heird, also spoke about the IARP's decision. Here's a look at their reactions and what others in the college basketball world had to say on Twitter:

U of L athletic director Josh Heird

"With the IARP announcement earlier today, we can finally turn the page on a long and arduous process," Heird said in his opening statement Thursday. "Thank you to (IARP) Chairman (David) Benck and the panel for taking the time to thoroughly review the facts of our case. We were hopeful for a positive outcome through this process and that’s what we received today.

"That said, let’s not forget the impact these allegations and this lengthy process have had on this University, this program, and this fan base. It should be noted that former and current players, coaches, staff, and their families have all been significantly impacted because of these allegations. At the end of the day, we’re relieved this process is finalized and we can now direct our full attention to the future of our men’s basketball program. For our University, the Louisville community, and our loyal and passionate fans, today marks the beginning of a new chapter."

The violations:Breaking down each of the 7 NCAA violations filed against Louisville basketball

U of L interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez

"As evidenced by their decision, our position was well represented in the hearing, and now we're ready as a program and a university to put the past behind us and move forward," Gonzalez said to kick off the joint news conference with Heird. "We have a new coach, a new athletic director and a new team that's ready to make the Cardinal Nation proud on and off the court. Going forward, our fans should expect a winning program and a winning culture.

"In entering the IARP, U of L had hoped to ensure a fair process, and today's action by the IARP reinforces that decision. Throughout this process, the university's been open, honest and thorough in discovering and owning any mistakes that were made, and we were aggressive in making steps to ensure that major violations would not happen again in this program. We revised, strengthened and in some instances implemented new policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations.

"I want to reiterate that none of our current coaches and student-athletes were in any way involved in the allegations. I also want to remind the fans that the university acted swiftly and strongly to argue our case, hiring one of the top litigators in the nation. We felt and continue to feel strongly that our players and our players deserve the best effort possible to protect our program. I want to thank all our fans for your patience and continued support during this very lengthy process. Today, we closed the book on the past. We ask all of the Cardinal Nation to get behind these young men and all our teams as we move into a brighter future."

Former Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino

"The IARP apparently is going away, and I'm very disappointed in that for other coaches and other programs and other universities, because these are legal experts who are strict with due process. They don't believe in hearsay," Pitino said Thursday afternoon. "I'm certainly not going to knock the NCAA, because I'm part of the NCAA — I'd be knocking myself. But I will say this: I've been through two different hearings. This one was much more professional from the standpoint of they would not take into consideration just like a red flag. I'm being accused of having strict rules. I was told that I was too strict, that an assistant coach could not come to me if he violated rules because he would be terminated. I've told my staff going back 40 years that, if they knowingly violate NCAA rules, they will be terminated. If they break a rule and it's unknowingly, we turn ourselves in, and we obviously take it to our athletic director and our compliance department. They felt that that was too strict. Well, that's should be their goal and what they're shooting for.

"Now, two assistant coaches (Kenny Johnson and Jordan Fair) have had a show cause. One of them has apologized to me just recently through his attorney and he's glad that this is now over with, and I appreciate that and you're certainly forgiven of anything as far as I'm concerned. But, as you sit for two years away from the game you love, you sit at your home with nothing to do and suddenly it's not eight hours a day on a basketball court. Suddenly, it's not scouting, watching film and breaking away and not realizing that you may not get back in the game. You suddenly realize that you you have to take accountability for who you may hire, but then you start looking at all the positives.

"You know, I've had over 25 people become head coaches. Three have gone to Final Fours. One of my ex players and coaches won back-to-back national championships, a future Hall of Famer. Another at UCLA, Mick Cronin, was an outstanding assistant who was totally compliant to rules. Another, Tubby Smith, won a national championship at Kentucky. So it is about 23, 24, 25 others. The first female coach to ever sit on the bench became a head coach and was part of that great game with Duke where we lost on that Christian Laettner jump shot. So there are so many great assistants out there that did it the right way, and I'm so appreciative of them and the teams that they helped me build.

Rick Pitino:What former coach said about IARP's Louisville ruling, vacated championship and Tom Jurich

"When I left (Louisville), I got a phone call about a week prior to Christmas. I decided to take a job in the professional league, Panathinaikos into EuroLeague. I just left my family, took off — never been to Greece, and then the next two years were an unbelievable experience. I coached against great coaches in the EuroLeague. We made the playoffs both the years. We won two Greek League championships, and I later became the national coach. So, through great adversity, sometimes unbelievable things happen. I've had so many friends — from my agent over in Greece, he's like a little brother to me, and the thousands of people I met that treated me with such great kindness over in Greece. I can't thank them enough, and to become their national coach was a distinct honor that I'll never forget.

"So those two years went by, and I got the opportunity now to come back to Iona and coach college basketball once again. I'm deeply appreciative of them, as well. But now it's time to get on with this and certainly Louisville's behind me. I wish them nothing but the best. Kenny Payne is a friend. I want to see him have great success."

Former Louisville men's basketball coach Chris Mack

"I appreciate the many texts of support I’ve received today," Mack tweeted Thursday afternoon. "The cloud that my staff and I operated under during our time at UofL was irreparable in recruiting. As far as the trivial allegations levied against me & our program, today was a vindication in many ways.

"The deeper meaning for me, though, is that had the separation from UofL not occurred, I never would have had those last few weeks round the clock with my Dad. God had a plan all along and for that I’m grateful.

"Christi and I wish everyone at UofL all the best moving forward, the fans certainly deserve it after the last 5 years of uncertainty."

Louisville men's basketball coach Kenny Payne

"Since returning to Louisville in March, my focus has been — and continues to be — on the incredible young men in our basketball program," Payne said in a statement from a team spokesperson. "I am grateful for the leadership and effort put in by so many over the last several years to help bring this matter to a close. With this matter behind us, we are only looking ahead as we help our student-athletes achieve their dreams and build this program to the level in which our community can take pride.”

Timeline:Louisville men's basketball got handed its punishment by NCAA IARP. How we got here

Former Louisville athletic director Vince Tyra

"We provided a plan to the NCAA for immediate and strong change within our athletic department, a voice of reason on the allegations, and the need for change on how the NCAA manages penalties globally," said Tyra, who resigned as U of L's athletic director in December 2021.

"All due respect to the Rice Commission, greater prospective penalties was not the answer. I would like to think our approach was good for all of college athletics and not just Louisville. The time lag for the decision wasn't ideal and very damaging to the program, but Kenny Payne and our athletic leadership will take it from here and put Louisville back in its place as an elite program. They now have definitive answers in hand. A valuable asset."

Louisville fans, college basketball world react to penalties levied against Cardinals on Twitter

Reach recruiting and trending sports reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Fan, expert reaction to Louisville men's basketball's NCAA penalties