Louisville's law firm hired a private detective to investigate ex-Louisville AD Tom Jurich

The low-key settlement talks between the University of Louisville and Tom Jurich have taken a more confrontational tone now that a private detective agency has been hired to investigate the former athletic director.

Kentucky Special Investigative Unit, a licensed detective agency based in Louisville, is pursuing leads related to U of L’s contract with Adidas and has approached Courier Journal seeking information on “any allegations of sexual harassment between Jurich and females involved with the University.”

"It is ironic to hire a private investigator to pursue allegations that simply do not exist," Jurich said. "In fact, the implication of an allegation (of sexual harassment) is a bold lie. It is shocking and shameful that someone associated with the University of Louisville has hired a private investigator to pursue a witch hunt against me. The University of Louisville has attempted to destroy my reputation over the last six months; the same University in which my family and I gave twenty years of faithful service."

How it has come to this less than eight months since University of Louisville interim President Greg Postel described Jurich's performance review as "uniformly positive" is a mystery. But after 20 years of almost unbroken success, Jurich lost his job through a scathing termination letter in the wake of an FBI investigation of the recruitment of Brian Bowen — a letter filled with disparaging generalities investigators now seek to substantiate.

Kentucky Special Investigative Unit has been engaged to help provide additional context, fill in blanks and, presumably, to dig for dirt on Jurich as he and the university head toward mediation and a potential court battle.

Tom Jurich's legacy: Bold businessman or bully? Depends on who you ask

Postel said Saturday that the hiring of a private detective was not his doing. Stoll Keenon Ogden, the law firm representing the university in the Jurich matter, initially declined to comment on whether it was funding the investigation, citing attorney-client privilege, but later confirmed it had hired an investigator.

"Investigations are a routine part of ongoing or potential litigation," the firm said in a statement.

Kentucky Special Investigative Unit director Steve Thomas declined comment on the investigation, saying, “Due to the fact that this is an ongoing investigation, we are bound by law to maintain our client’s confidentiality."

Though Jurich’s attorney, Sheryl Snyder, called it “irregular” to engage a private investigator in a breach-of-contract dispute, the move is consistent with the university’s aggressive strategy with one of its most prominent ex-employees.

In firing Jurich for “just cause,” Postel’s Oct. 20 letter alleged he had been guilty of “willful misconduct” and had demonstrated “ineffective management, divisive leadership, unprofessional conduct, and a lack of congeniality best characterized as intimidation and bullying.”

That letter reads like a litigator’s list of possible arguments to avoid paying Jurich’s salary, but it bears Postel’s signature. It also contradicts Postel’s own account of Jurich’s annual review at the University of Louisville Athletic Association’s June 2 personnel meeting.

“The committee had a chance to go around the table and make comments about the performance of the University of Louisville athletics program over the past year and the comments were uniformly positive,” Postel said. “They reflected a variety of different facets of the program.

"Of course, athletic performance being one and a very conspicuous one, which has been terrific, and not just in the sports of basketball and football. But in many different athletic venues, the University of Louisville has enjoyed tremendous success thanks to the coaching efforts and the quality of the athletes who have been recruited.

“But the evaluation went well beyond that.”

Read this: Tom Jurich's Louisville performance reviews paint a very different picture

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With Jurich seated to his immediate left, Postel praised the academic success of U of L athletes, the department’s “holistic” approach with athletes in areas such as nutrition, and the added value of membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

There was not a discouraging word in Postel’s extemporaneous remarks. Not one. When Jurich subsequently spoke, and praised the institution’s cooperation with the NCAA in investigating the Andre McGee/Katina Powell scandal, video of the meeting shows Postel nodding, almost imperceptibly, in agreement.

"The (University of Louisville Athletic Association) review of Mr. Jurich was based on his performance in 2016-17, under a different administration," Postel said in a statement released Monday evening. "Since that time, new information has come to light that revealed significant deficiencies in his performance. As we stated previously, we clearly feel that for the reasons cited in the Oct. 20 letter to Mr. Jurich, we had grounds to terminate his contract with cause."

The specific causes of Postel’s shifting attitude toward Jurich are unknown. How a rave review could have given way to withering condemnation in such a short span has fueled conspiracy theories involving Gov. Matt Bevin, board of trustees Chairman J. David Grissom and Postel’s own temporary position and lack of tenure.

More: Jurich was fired with a scathing letter about his 'ineffective' leadership

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"University officials have stooped to a new low, hiring a PI in an attempt to discredit Tom Jurich," board of overseers member Hal Bomar said via a text message. "This is nothing but a witch hunt and an embarrassment to U of L."

Sheryl Snyder, Jurich's lawyer, reacted to recent developments without raising his voice or his blood pressure.

"I'm not alarmed," he said. "I'm not afraid a private investigator is going to find anything negative about Tom Jurich."

Tim Sullivan: 502-582-4650; tsullivan@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @TimSullivan714. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/tims.