The University of Louisville has extended the contract of men's basketball coach Rick Pitino four years, boosting his association with the Cardinals through the 2016-17 season.
The only coach in NCAA history to take three different teams to the Final Four, Pitino had three years
remaining on his current contract, which would have tied him with the Cardinals through the 2012-13
season. The agreement will take Pitino into the first seven years of the new downtown arena being
constructed on the Louisville riverfront. U of L men's and women's basketball will serve as the primary
tenants for the new facility scheduled to open for the 2010-11 season.
When the final horn sounded at the UofL men's basketball game against Syracuse, it marked the last time a University of Louisville basketball team plays a home game at Freedom Hall.
Starting next season, the men's and women's teams will compete at the new downtown arena.
Freedom Hall, considered one of the great venues for college basketball, was home to the men's and women's basketball teams for many years. Such UofL legends as Wes Unseld, Charlie Tyra, Darrell Griffith and Angel McCoughtry played there, and the games sparked many memories.
As the university community bids farewell to an era, faculty and staff shared their favorite memories...
University of Louisville officials, construction workers, government leaders, and the Louisville Arena Authority celebrated the addition of the final structural beam to the new downtown sports arena March 29.
Since construction is ahead of schedule and the actual final beam already was in place, they signed a ceremonial beam that was hoisted with a flag and small tree to symbolize respect for nature.
The 22,000 seat arena is scheduled to open in November. It will be home to the UofL men's and women's basketball teams.
UofL and Messer Construction officials signed the highest beam before putting it into place at a topping-off ceremony April 1 at the School of Dentistry. Workers now have finished putting the steel beams in place for the 20,000-square-foot addition, which will include a new entrance to the school. Completion is scheduled for fall 2011. "These upgrades will have far-reaching effects on our capacity for innovation and will help bring us closer to our goal to become a premier metropolitan research university," said Larry Cook, executive vice president for health affairs.
UofL Society members gathered recently for the unveiling of a new interactive donor recognition wall at the University Club.
University Advancement staff developed the interactive display, which updates instantly when UofL's donor database changes. The wall also gives information about the university, its history, and its goals for the future.
The UofL Society is one of several donor categories by amount given to the university. Society members are people whose cumulative giving to UofL is $50,000 or more. There are 2,764 members.
The University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) will receive more than $800,000 over the next two years to help Louisville in its goals of preventing and reducing obesity.
The funding is part of a federal $7.9 million grant awarded to the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness as part of a comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
"We strive to encourage better health for local citizens, and are thrilled to be part of this effort to fight obesity," said Richard Clover, MD, SPHIS dean.
The grant also will fund city-wide activities that will make healthier foods available in schools, assist students to grow produce, build community infrastructure to encourage biking and walking, and make fresh produce more readily available in underserved neighborhoods.
Mention your alumni status at the time of registration and receive a 25 percent discount on the Delphi Center's "Options" classes and a 50 percent discount on professional development seminars. Classes include "Staging Your Home to Sell," "Social Media 101" and "Golf for Beginners and Beyond." Professional development seminars cover workplace competencies such as communication, management and critical thinking. To learn more, call 502-852-6456 or visit louisville.edu/delphi.
The Cardinal football team began spring practice under first-year head coach Charlie Strong. The Cardinals initially hit the field on March 24 on the practice fields of the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex. Louisville will practice every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday during the spring. All practices are free and open to the public. "I think it is important to have these practices open to our fans," said Strong. "I think it is also good for our players to practice in front of people, and for the fans to get a look at their football team." The Cardinals will conduct their Annual Red-White Game on Friday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Join the UofL Alumni Association for a tailgate party prior to the football scrimmage at Jim Patterson Baseball Stadium, with $1 drinks and hot dogs, raffles, and games. Free admission. The game is also free of charge.
University of Louisville baseball senior co-captain Adam Duvall was recently named to the initial Brooks Wallace Award Watch List. Duvall leads the Cardinals with a .391 average and ranks second nationally with 15 doubles.
Duvall, a Louisville native, is also second on the team with six home runs and tied for third in RBI with 19. After spending his entire junior season at second base, Duvall was moved to shortstop early in 2010 and has been outstanding for the No. 7 ranked Cardinals.
The Brooks Wallace Award, sponsored by Mizuno, recognizes the nation's top shortstop and will be presented on July 2 in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the College Baseball Awards Show.
University of Louisville junior D'Ana McCarty won the women's track and field program's second-ever NCAA championship. McCarty dominated her competition by almost four feet to repeat and defend her national title. The Indiana native participated in the shot put and discus throw at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships at the University of Arkansas's Randal Tyson Track Center.
April 9 Hillary Clinton To Visit UofL, Louisville, Brown & Williamson Club, McConnell Center Spring Lecture Series, 2:45 p.m.; free limited tickets: www.louisville.edu/mcconnellcenter.
April 11 Friends of the School of Music, Louisville, The Henry Clay Ballroom, 5-10 p.m. $100 (includes dinner, dancing, and cocktails; $10 dance only).
April 17 UofL Foundation Thunder Over Louisville Event, Louisville, Frazier International History Museum, 3-10 p.m.,$75 (includes dinner and museum tours, $25 under 18, under 5 free), reservations (502) 852-2148.
Don't keep your car idling while you wait in traffic backups. Save some money and gas while saving on unnecessary pollution. Shut off the engine - and take a deep breath. The fuel consumed in restarting a car is the same as idling 20 to 60 seconds. Idling longer than this is a waste and produces more emissions than a moving car.
