Gaudio, Former Wake Forest Coach, Pleads Guilty To Federal Charge

A former Wake Forest basketball coach is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to an attempted extortion charge last week.

The charge resulted from actions Dino Gaudio took after being let go from his assistant coaching duties at the University of Louisville in March.

Prosecutors say Gaudio threatened to go to the media with alleged NCAA violations by the team unless he was paid 17 months of salary or a $425,000 lump sum payment.

At Wake Forest, Gaudio served as an assistant under former Head Coach Skip Prosser. When Prosser died of a heart attack in 2007, Gaudio took his place and served as head coach until 2010. 

Gaudio pleaded guilty to a federal charge of interstate communication with intent to extort, agreeing to a plea deal that will include probation and a fine. He will be sentenced in August.