LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In Rick Pitino’s words, the wife of his equipment manager was welcomed into Louisville’s close-knit basketball family. Beneath the surface, however, was an explosive secret.

Pitino and Karen Sypher had sex at a restaurant eight months before she married the coach’s confidant, Tim Sypher. Over the next few years, the three would attend the same parties, take basketball trips and tailgate together, despite Pitino’s past affair.

What happened over those years is a he-said, she-said story. Pitino recently denied to police Karen Sypher’s contention that he raped her, and authorities declined to prosecute her claims, citing a lack of evidence.

Pitino acknowledged giving her $3,000 after she said she was pregnant and was getting an abortion, but didn’t have health insurance. Pitino’s lawyer said the money was for insurance and he never paid for an abortion.

Pitino also told police Sypher didn’t display any strange behavior during all of the social events they attended together.

On Friday, though, Pitino’s attorney, Steve Pence, said Karen Sypher was “clearly disturbed and incapable of telling the truth.”

Karen Sypher, 49, was indicted in May on charges of extortion and lying to federal authorities. She has pleaded not guilty.

According to the complaint, Tim Sypher brought Pitino a written list of demands that eventually escalated to $10 million. Tim Sypher has not been charged and has voiced support for his boss. He and Karen are getting a divorce.

Karen Sypher has told police she first met her future husband in a fast-food parking lot, and followed him to his condo to meet Pitino to discuss her pregnancy a few weeks after they had sex.

She claimed Pitino sent Tim Sypher upstairs and the coach sexually assaulted her a second time, a claim the local prosecutors also found to be without evidence.

She told police that she believes the coach told her future husband to arrange the abortion and accompany her to the procedure. She thinks Pitino paid Tim Sypher to marry her.