In the midst of ongoing settlement talks between the University of Louisville and former athletic director Tom Jurich, legal counsel for the university has hired a private detective agency to investigate allegations made against Jurich.
In a statement, law firm Stoll Keenon Odgden confirmed that it has enlisted the services of Kentucky Special Investigative Unit to look into Louisville’s contract with Adidas. The unit also contacted the Courier Journal seeking information about “any allegations of sexual harassment between Jurich and females involved with the University,” according to the publication.
Investigators are seeking to substantiate insinuations made against Jurich in his termination letter Oct. 20, wherein interim president Greg Postel claimed Jurich had displayed “willful misconduct,” as well as “ineffective management, divisive leadership, unprofessional conduct, and a lack of congeniality best characterized as intimidation and bullying.”
In an interview with Courier Journal, Jurich called it “ironic” to hire an investigation of allegations “that simply do not exist.” Said Jurich, “the implication of an allegation [of sexual harassment] is a bold lie. It is shocking and shameful that someone associated with the University of Louisville has hired a private investigator to pursue a witch hunt against me.”
Though Stoll Keenon Ogden called the investigation a “routine part of ongoing or potential litigation,” this new development provides a contrast from Jurich’s June performance review by the university, which Postel described as “uniformly positive” less than eight months ago.
In a statement Monday, Postel said, “The [University of Louisville Athletic Association] review of Mr. Jurich was based on his performance in 2016-17, under a different administration. Since that time, new information has come to light that revealed significant deficiencies in his performance.”
In a text message, Board of Overseers member Hal Bomar wrote, “University officials have stooped to a new low, hiring a PI in an attempt to discredit Tom Jurich. This is nothing but a witch hunt and an embarrassment to U of L.”
Attorney Sheryl Snyder, who has been representing Jurich, said he is “not alarmed” to learn of the pending investigation. Though he called it “irregular” to involve a private investigator in a breach-of-contract dispute, he is “not afraid a private investigator is going to find anything negative about Tom Jurich.”
