Woman charged with trying to extort Pitino

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - An equipment manager’s estranged wife has been charged with trying to extort Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino.

A criminal complaint filed in federal court Friday also accuses Karen Sypher of lying to the FBI. She appeared in court but did not enter a plea, and was released on her own recognizance.

The complaint says Sypher’s husband brought Pitino a written list of demands including a house, cars and money. It says Sypher wanted college tuition for her children, two cars of her choice, her house paid off and $3,000 per month.

The complaint says those demands were later withdrawn when she asked for $10 million instead.

It isn’t clear why she was demanding the money. Court documents say only that Pitino believed it was related to an encounter in 2003.