Louisville, Mack mutually part ways, agree to $4.8M buyout

Louisville and men's basketball head coach Chris Mack mutually agreed to part ways after four seasons, Cardinals interim director of athletics Josh Heird announced Wednesday.

Assistant coach Mike Pegues will immediately take over on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign.

"To wake up every day these last four years as the head coach of the University of Louisville has been an opportunity that I will cherish," Mack said in a statement. "Over the past 50 years, this position has been among the most coveted in all of college sports, and I count myself lucky to have been a part of this university's storied history."

The school's board of trustees and athletic board agreed on a settlement with Mack of $4.8 million over three years, Heird told reporters Wednesday, according to Eric Crawford of WDRB Sports.

Mack ends his four-year coaching tenure with a 68-37 mark. The Cardinals made the NCAA Tournament during his first season in charge and were ranked No. 1 in the nation for two weeks in 2019-20.

However, the school hasn't replicated the same success since. Louisville is just 11-9 this season, including a 5-5 mark in ACC play.

The Cardinals and Mack have also been under additional scrutiny. Last August, Louisville suspended the 52-year-old for six games for failing to follow procedures in handling an extortion attempt by ex-assistant Dino Gaudio. Two months later, the NCAA accused the Cardinals and Mack of more violations.