Rick Pitino’s son will coach Florida International University
Louisville Cardinals basketball coach Rick Pitino said that his son, Richard Pitino, is leaving his staff to become the next head basketball coach at Florida International University.
“You know I’m delighted, but I’m going to miss (him) terribly,” Rick Pitino said. “I think one of the great things in 35 years of coaching was spending three years with him. Watch him grow as a basketball coach, and you sort of don’t want it to end.”
FIU fired Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas on April 6 after going 26-65 in three seasons. The team had 12 consecutive losing seasons.
Rick Pitino told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz that the contract hasn’t been signed yet, but it will be.
“It’s his opportunity,” Rick Pitino said. “It was his decision, not that I was against it. But I would have loved to have been with him a few more years.”
Richard Pitino spent this past season with the Cardinals and helped them to the Final Four. He spent the previous two years as an assistant at Florida.
Richard Pitino was also a Louisville assistant from 2007 through 2009. In addition, he has worked at Duquesne, Northeastern and the College of Charleston.
FIU and Richard Pitino aren’t talking yet.
