Who is Rick Pitino? All you need to know about Iona University head coach
College basketball is a sport where coaching makes a massive impact on the team's chances of winning. Near the top of the list of the most impactful coaches is Rick Pitino.
The legendary coach has been around basketball for over 50 years and will be looking to lead the Iona Gaels (27-7) through the NCAA Tournament. Entering as the 11th seed in the West region of the bracket, they will be looking to force an upset over 4th-seeded Connecticut (25-8).
The reign of Rick Pitino's coaching career dates to well before his three seasons at Iona.
In 1983 I went to my first NCAA tourney with Boston University. 40 years later it is still every bit as magical. Love these guys. So proud. #GoGaels https://t.co/QPtzagBMWM
Who is Rick Pitino?
After growing up in New York, Rick Pitino played college basketball at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He had a modest career with the Minuteman from 1971-1978 but shifted his focus to coaching immediately following his four seasons at the university.
Pitino started his coaching career at the University of Hawaii, where he accepted a job as a graduate assistant. He climbed the ranks to full-time assistant and was eventually named interim head coach. The NCAA investigated some recruiting infractions by Pitino during this time, and the coach moved on to Syracuse as an assistant under Jim Boeheim.
He spent just two seasons at Syracuse before Pitino got his first head coaching job at Boston University in 1978. He played a major role in changing the culture of a program that had won just 17 total games in the two years before his arrival. Boston ran a full-court press from start to finish in most games and managed to secure its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 24 years.
After five seasons at Boston University, Pitino accepted a job as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks. He spent three seasons learning under Knicks coach Hubie Brown before returning to the college level to coach Providence. Pitino spent two years coaching the program and led them to a Final Four run before returning to the Knicks as a head coach in 1987.
This stint with the Knicks was also short-lived as he resigned after two seasons. He went just 90-74 in New York, but led the team to their first divisional title in nearly 20 years. He then returned to the college level to coach Kentucky.
Pitino helped restore Kentucky's spot among college basketball royalty, leading the program to three Final Fours and a national championship during his eight seasons in Lexington. This is where Pitino began to fully establish his reputation as the impressive college coach he is.
However, it was not without one more chance at the NBA as Pitino left Kentucky in 1997 to coach the Boston Celtics. During his tenure, the Celtics went just 102-146 and left with some great frustrations. This was his last time coaching in the NBA.
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Pitino was elevated to basketball royalty upon his return to college. He became the head coach of Louisville and stayed there for the next 16 seasons. Louisville went 416-143 and went to the NCAA Tournament 13 times, including three Final Four trips and a championship.
However, the success was overshadowed by off-court scandals that occurred during Pitino's tenure. It was announced in 2017 that federal prosecutors had indicted Pitino on "pay-to-play" accusations regarding his recruiting methods. He was eventually fired from the university with the NCAA stripping the 2013 national championship and 2012 Final Four appearance from the school.
Stepping out of the spotlight and under scrutiny, Pitino accepted a job in the Euroleague. The 70-year-old became the head coach of Panathinaikos for the next three seasons and led them to the Greek Basket League season championship.
He made his return to the college scene in 2020 when he accepted a job at Iona. The Gaels have gone 64-21 in his three seasons, and this is the second time he has taken them to the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, he holds a coaching record of 834-292. His 74.1% winning percentage ranks 27th all-time among coaches. He is also the only coach to lead three different programs to Final Four appearances. Having success with Iona would be the ultimate feather in Pitino's cap, and he will look to find it in this tournament.