LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Former University of Louisville assistant men's basketball coach Dino Gaudio pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge Friday. Gaudio was arraigned and pleaded guilty to sending a text message through interstate commerce in an attempt to extort UofL's men's basketball program.

The crime carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

Last month, acting United States Attorney Michael Bennett said Gaudio tried to "extort money and other things of value" from the University of Louisville (UofL) in exchange for not releasing information about alleged recruiting violations by the university to the National College Athletic Association (NCAA)." The indictment does not specify the "other things of value" he was requesting, and Gaudio claims in the indictment that school violated NCAA rules in its production of basketball recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and its use of graduate assistants during practices.

Also included in the indictment is the allegation that Gaudio met with UofL personnel March 17 and asked for his salary for an additional 17 months, or a lump sum equal to 17 months' pay. The same day, Gaudio allegedly sent a text including one of the videos he was threatening to send to the media unless he received the money he was asking for, according to the document. The text was sent from Kentucky and sent out of state, which is a federal offense.

Gaudio joined head coach Chris Mack's staff in 2018, and before coming to UofL, Gaudio was a basketball analyst for ESPN. Gaudio also served as the head coach at Wake Forest from 2007-2010. He was also an assistant at Xavier University in Ohio. Gaudio and Mack had a relationship that went back three decades and three schools, Xavier, Wake Forest and Louisville.

Gaudio is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 27.