Louisville athletic board unanimously votes to begin Pitino's termination

The Rick Pitino era at Louisville is all but over.

The university unanimously voted Monday to begin the process to terminate the coach "for cause," according to ESPN's Myron Medcalf.

"The board requested of me and authorized me to initiate the process to terminate for cause, as defined in coach Pitino's employment contract," interim president Greg Postel said.

Pitino has steadfastly maintained his innocence in the midst of a wide-ranging FBI investigation into college basketball corruption that has targeted his program over money paid to Cardinals recruit Brian Bowen. He appears to have conceded that his career at Louisville is over, but is now involved in the legal process of his departure.

Pitino's lawyers served a breach of contract notice to Louisville on Monday, according to WDRB-TV. At stake in the debate will be if the school has to pay Pitino a $44-million buyout.

If he's terminated for cause, however, Louisville believes it's only responsible for 10 days salary from the day he was officially removed.