Jurich no longer employed, fired by UofL’s Board of Trustees Wednesday in LouisvilleKY

Nope, staying at U of L

Story and photos from www.louisville.edu

 

LouisvilleKY., – The University of Louisville Board of Trustees voted 10-3 on Wednesday to terminate the contract of Vice-President for Athletics and Athletics Director Tom Jurich “with cause.” The board met in executive session for more than two hours before voting to fire the man who has led UofL Athletics since 1997. Interim President Dr. Greg Postel thanked Jurich for his service and told reporters the university will continue its strong commitment to student-athletes and the athletics program.

Postel’s prepared statement to the media:

Today the board of trustees voted to terminate, with cause, the employment of our athletic director.   We want to thank Tom for his years of service and many contributions to the university. 

From an administrative perspective, we are confident in the leadership abilities of the acting athletic director, Vince Tyra.  We know that Vince will lead the department in a way that best serves the university, and our student athletes, both on and off the field. 

UofL

On behalf of the board of trustees, we thank those who have taken the time to write us in the past weeks.  Your passion and support for the University of Louisville will ensure that our best days are ahead of us. 

To our students, faculty, staff and Cards fans, this is our opportunity to demonstrate the unity and integrity that define being a Louisville Cardinal.  When I walk around campus I’m always inspired when I see a student wearing one of our t-shirts that reads “Rise to the Occasion.” Right now, we need to challenge ourselves to do just that.

Thank you.

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The trustees also heard an update on the university’s financial picture from interim CFO Susan Howarth. Howarth says UofL’s cost cutting efforts are working and there is “good news” in the numbers. UofL is meeting its budget targets and on pace to meet its goal of spending $10 million less than the 2016-17 fiscal year in each of three categories: compensation, procurement and other cost savings.

“We feel very comfortable about meeting these goals,” Howarth said.

Howarth says first quarter revenues are running ahead of last year’s and a slight drop in the size of the freshman class has been offset by an increase in enrollment at the Brandeis School of Law.

The board also took two actions designed to address the two remaining concerns of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, UofL’s accreditation agency:

  • Approved memoranda of understanding between the university and both the UofL Real Estate Foundation and Pediatric Medical Office Building, Inc.
  • Approved a resolution in support of administrators currently filling interim roles

Also, faculty members Susan Jarosi and Rob Keynton appeared before the full board expressing concerns about the board’s plan to conduct a closed search for the next UofL President. Jarosi and Keynton head the Presidential Search Faculty Consultation Committee and laid out reasons the board should conduct a more open search process, reveal the three finalists and bring them to campus for meetings with faculty, staff and students before a final decision is made. Due to time constraints there was no discussion following the presentation, but board chair David Grissom invited the faculty members to appear at the next meeting for a question and answer session.