Chris Mack: 'No bitterness' in exit as Louisville head coach

Former Louisville Cardinals head coach Chris Mack. Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Mack harbors 'no bitterness' in exit as Louisville MBB head coach

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 1/26/22

Chris Mack told reporters Wednesday that tensions had been building prior to his departure from the University of Louisville, but that he holds no ill will as he leaves his post with the men's basketball team.

"It's been building. We all want the best for Louisville and I still do. That's not going to change," Mack told the press outside the team's athletic facility. "It's not really important when or any of that stuff. What's important is that these guys need to be able to be connected. I'm humble enough where if I'm not the right person -- all good, man. Just want the best for them. They're great kids. I loved my team at Louisville. My kids loved it here. I harbor no bitterness."

Chris Mack is out as Head Coach at the University of Louisville.

We just spoke to him outside the athletic facility. Here are his comments. pic.twitter.com/XbPX7W0FiM
— Dalton Godbey (@DaltonTVNews) January 26, 2022

Mack's relationship with Louisville -- players and school personnel alike -- had been deteriorating since last season. After getting off to a 9-1 start in 2020-21, the team floundered and missed the NCAA tournament. Then, he was suspended for six games at the start of this season for his part in last spring's firing of assistant coach Dino Gaudio. In that incident, Gaudio tried to extort Mack and threatened to expose NCAA violations made by the head coach if he wasn't paid the remainder of his salary.

By the time Mack returned, his relationship with the team was clearly strained. The team went 5-1 under assistant coach Mike Pegues while Mack served his suspension, but has gone just 6-8 since his return. After a recent loss to Notre Dame, forward Malik Williams couldn't even say whether the team was still listening to Mack.

Q: You said "sometimes we just don't bring it." Do you think the players are still responding to this coaching staff or are they tuning them out?

Malik Williams after a long pause: I don't have a comment for that. pic.twitter.com/oP04Y7rjGD
— Mark Blankenbaker (@UofLSheriff50) January 24, 2022