Rick Pitino, the embattled former Louisville men’s basketball coach, made his first public statement Friday since being placed on unpaid administrative leave Wednesday because of an ongoing federal investigation. According to Kentucky Today, Pitino called Tom Jurich “the best athletic director in the country” and thanked former players from Providence, UK and Louisville who reached out to him – “Your support means more to me than I can possible express,” he said – and the many friends and fans who supported him. He said he owed a “thousand thanks and an apology for the disappointment you may have.” Jurich was placed on paid administrative leave on Wednesday by University of Louisville Interim President Gregory Portel. Pitino continued to deny having any knowledge of any payments to any recruit or their family. “But I was the head coach and I will take ownership of my decisions. The university took the action they thought was necessary and I will do the same.”