Rick Pitino sues Louisville Athletic Association for $38.7 million claiming breach of contract

— -- Rick Pitino has sued the University of Louisville Athletic Association for $38.7 million, saying it breached his contract by placing him on unpaid administrative leave without notice and firing him last month with no legally justified "cause."

Pitino was fired in October in the wake of an FBI investigation of bribery and fraud in college basketball related to the steering of recruits to Adidas, sports agents and financial advisers. Pitino maintains he wasn't aware of an alleged payment from a Cardinals assistant to the family of Brian Bowen, a freshman who hadn't been cleared to play by the school.

Louisville has since announced that Bowen won't play for the school but can transfer if he wishes.

University spokesman John Karman told The Louisville Courier-Journal that Louisville is aware of the lawsuit.

"As a matter of policy, the university does not comment on pending litigation," Karman said in an email.

In October, Pitino filed a federal lawsuit against Adidas, claiming damages caused by the apparel company's improper dealings with recruits.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.