Louisville president James Ramsey steps down

As part of a major reorganization of Louisville's leadership group, James Ramsey has stepped down as president.

Governor Matt Bevin announced Friday that along with Ramsey's ousting, he's removing the school's entire board of trustees. The 17 former members will be replaced with 13 new ones, 10 of which he will personally appoint.

"There is, I think, pretty much uniform agreement among all people with whom I've had conversation … the board as it exists right now is not particularly functional," Bevin said, according to Travis Kircher of WDRB.com. "Its dysfunction has precluded it from what its responsibility is."

Bevin said Friday's action was motivated by concerns in the academic, administrative, and athletic departments, though it's the latter that will garner most of the national attention.

In wake of allegations that an ex-staffer of the basketball team paid escorts to entertain recruits on campus visits, the university has already self-imposed numerous sanctions, which included a postseason ban last year. The NCAA continues to investigate the matter, with no resolution in clear sight.

It was supposedly Ramsey who decided on his own to implement the ban on the Cardinals last year. The decision irked head coach Rick Pitino, though both sides denied any speculation of friction between them.

Ramsey has agreed to leave his post immediately, but Bevin said he could stay on for two more weeks while Louisville searches for an interim replacement.