Is the Pitino Legacy Set for a Louisville Comeback?
In an intriguing twist of fate, the University of Louisville might be on the verge of welcoming back a familiar name to its basketball program. Cardinal Authority has reliably learned from several sources that Richard Pitino is now a frontrunner for the head coaching position at the University of Louisville. Athletic Director Josh Heird has reportedly engaged in multiple discussions with Pitino in recent days.
At 41, Richard Pitino, son of Rick Pitino, the legendary former U of L Hall of Fame head coach, has just wrapped up his third season at the helm of New Mexico’s basketball team. Under his guidance, the Lobos notched a commendable 26-10 record, clinched the Mountain West Conference tournament championship, and secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Their journey, however, came to an end with a first-round loss to Clemson last Friday.
The search for a new coach at U of L follows the dismissal of Kenny Payne, who departed after a challenging two-season tenure that saw the team compile a 12-52 record. In the quest for Payne’s successor, Heird initially set his sights on Baylor’s Scott Drew and Florida Atlantic’s Dusty May. Drew opted to remain in Waco, Texas, while May accepted a position at Michigan. Amidst these developments, Richard Pitino’s name has surfaced as a leading contender for the role, alongside other notable candidates like Indiana State’s Josh Shertz, Charleston’s Pat Kelsey, and Seton Hall’s Shaheen Holloway.
Richard Pitino is no stranger to Louisville, having served as an assistant coach under his father from 2007 to 2009 before venturing to Florida to work with Billy Donovan. He made a return to Louisville for the 2011-12 season, playing a pivotal role as the associate head coach during the Cardinals’ journey to the Final Four.
Following a successful stint as the head coach at Florida International, where he led the team to an 18-14 record in the 2012-13 season, Pitino took over the reins at Minnesota. Over eight seasons with the Gophers, he amassed a 141-123 record, capturing the NIT title in his debut season and leading the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Notably, Pitino’s sole NCAA Tournament victory came in 2019 when his team triumphed over Louisville in the first round.
With a three-year record of 61-41 at New Mexico, Richard Pitino’s coaching credentials are solid. As Louisville looks to turn a new page, the potential return of a Pitino to the helm could signal a full-circle moment for the storied basketball program.