<p>LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Federal authorities have charged a former University of Louisville assistant basketball coach with attempting to extort the university after his dismissal from the team.</p>
<p>Dino Gaudio threatened to go to the media with alleged NCAA violations by the team, according to a charging document filed in federal court. </p>
<p>During a March 17 meeting with team personnel, Gaudio said he would expose alleged violations by the team “in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and in the use of its graduate assistants in practices,” according to the document filed in Louisville on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Gaudio had been told his contract would not be renewed and he threatened to go public with the allegations “unless he was paid a significant sum of money,” the document said. Authorities said Gaudio demanded 17 months’ salary or a lump sum payment.</p>
<p>Gaudio and another assistant left the team in March after a season in which the team did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. </p>
<p>“The university and I were the victims of coach Gaudio’s conduct and I will continue to fully cooperate with authorities in their investigations,” Louisville head coach Chris Mack said in a statement Tuesday. “We take seriously any allegation of NCAA violations within our basketball program.”</p>
<p>The university said it could not comment “due to the ongoing federal investigation and the NCAA process.” </p>
<p>Gaudio is charged with interstate communication with intent to extort. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. </p>
<p>Gaudio had been the head coach at Wake Forest University from 2007-10. He then spent eight years as an ESPN analyst before joining Louisville in 2018. Gaudio also previously led Army and Loyola-Maryland and worked with Mack at Wake Forest.</p>
