Louisville probing claim staffer hired escorts for recruits
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH/AP) — An exchange of emails between Indiana University athletic department officials and their counterparts at the University of Louisville hinted in late August that an upcoming book would “not be favorable for the U of L image.”
The book purportedly spells out allegations that a madam along with a now-former U of L basketball team assistant arranged for escorts to have sex with Louisville players and recruits. The book is being published by Indianapolis-based IBJ Book Publishing. A voicemail left for publisher Patricia Keiffner was not returned Friday afternoon.
Louisville said Friday it has launched an investigation into allegations that former Cardinals staffer Andre McGee paid an escort service to provide sex for recruits. McGee left Louisville in 2014 to become an assistant at Missouri-Kansas City. That school put McGee on paid leave Friday night and said it was taking the allegations seriously.
The email chain, obtained by I-Team 8, includes a series of emails sent between an associate athletic director at IU and U of L in late August.
The email chain began with Mickey Mauer, who was described as a huge benefactor for IU. He emailed an IU associate athletic director looking to identify a player in a photo. It does not describe the photo but mentions it may be for an upcoming book.
An email sent on Monday, August 31st from IU Deputy director of athletics Scott Dolson to U of L executive assistant athletic director Kevin Miller at U of L reads: “Sorry re the email below… not sure what this is but it blindsided me… please tell Kenny to handle however he feels appropriate. Sorry again and thank for your help!! Scott”
A reply from U of L assistant athletic director Kenny Klein reads: “That’s disturbing to hear about something unfavorable, but I suppose I could look at the photo, particularly if it is something that would be published in a book. – Kenny”
Klein told reporters during an afternoon news conference Friday that he never saw the photo.
In addition to the emails, IU Athletics also released a statement denying that it tipped off NCAA investigators.
At no time did Indiana University have contact with the NCAA on this issue, contact a member of the media or act in malice in any way towards Louisville, and any suggestion contrary to these facts is false.