Pitino to Minnesota....

LOL. Big time desperation hire.

I figured they were waiting for Gregg Marshall...

It is probably a stretch to call this a desperation hire. A desperation hire is picking up a coaching legends son with literally no track record as a head coach just because of his last name after you have been rejected by at least 15 other potential candidates that were never even interested in the job to begin with. Wait....
 
None of the big guys are going after assistants this year. It's all about getting somebody with head coaching experience. I know that hiring assistants is a bigger deal in football, but since Stevens, Smart, and Marshall appear to be going nowhere I'm surprised that top assistants of traditional powers aren't getting hired.
 
None of the big guys are going after assistants this year. It's all about getting somebody with head coaching experience. I know that hiring assistants is a bigger deal in football, but since Stevens, Smart, and Marshall appear to be going nowhere I'm surprised that top assistants of traditional powers aren't getting hired.

Collins from Duke got hired by Northwestern. Not sure if that counts though as a missing persons report has already been filed by Collins. His coaching career has vanished into thin air.
 
Sad to say it, but it just doesn't seem like there are many home run hires out there, with UCLA hiring ALF.

and while Minnesota like many Big 10 schools has the money, facilities, and fan base, it isn't that desirable of a job.

taking a risk on a young gun can't be worse than hiring a rehashed mediocre coach, but in reality, I think Minnesota jumped too soon, and should have waited another year.
 
Sad to say it, but it just doesn't seem like there are many home run hires out there, with UCLA hiring ALF.

and while Minnesota like many Big 10 schools has the money, facilities, and fan base, it isn't that desirable of a job.

taking a risk on a young gun can't be worse than hiring a rehashed mediocre coach, but in reality, I think Minnesota jumped too soon, and should have waited another year.

Minnesota has terrible basket facilities. An outdated arena and no practice facility. This seems like a total panic hire to me, can't see this working out well.
 
Sad to say it, but it just doesn't seem like there are many home run hires out there, with UCLA hiring ALF.

and while Minnesota like many Big 10 schools has the money, facilities, and fan base, it isn't that desirable of a job.

taking a risk on a young gun can't be worse than hiring a rehashed mediocre coach, but in reality, I think Minnesota jumped too soon, and should have waited another year.

These two seemed more and more linked the longer this process has gone on. It sounds like coaches think it would be harder to recruit because of the facilities (probably true), and that it wouldn't be changing for a few years minimum. Otherwise, while not a top job, I think it would be more desirable then it is now.
 
I stopped over to gopherhole and actually most of the fans are pretty excited. 30 year old with some name reconition who was an assistant at Louisville and has a little head coaching experience. It is an obvious huge risk but then again wasn't Fred a big one two 3 years ago? it paid off handsomely. Note: Though most now MN fans believe the Big 3 in Minnesota are leaving.


Recognition of his dad's name. I didn't even know the real Pitino had a son who coached.

Imagine players and parents on a recruitment visit asking, "Will your dad come with you to any of my games?"
 
Did this Richard guy even play college ball? At least other coaches who get gigs thank to dad often have good playing careers at some decent school. I can't find a word about Rich's playing career.
 
Did this Richard guy even play college ball? At least other coaches who get gigs thank to dad often have good playing careers at some decent school. I can't find a word about Rich's playing career.


From Wiki so take with a shaker of salt:

"After attending St. Sebastian's School in Needham, Massachusetts, Richard Pitino earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Providence College in 2005. During his time at Providence, Pitino was the manager for the Friars men's basketball team under Tim Welsh."
 
Young guy with no experience...worked for Ia Sate. Wait, this guy doesn't have the NBA gravitas.:swoon:

Or gravitas at any level of competitive basketball- unless you're counting his experience as a student manager of the Providence College basketball team! So when Fred and Richard go head to head for a Rashad Vaughn, Rich can tell Vaughn "my daddy is a better coach than his daddy"
 
Gophers will schedule a home game against Louisville - thus ensuring that there's at least 1 sold-out game in his first season.
 
Why isn't anyone going after Tommy Amaker? I figured he would be pretty high on the list of up and young coaches.

I was wondering this as well. He has some experience and has shown after some early flops that he has become a solid coach. He is a guy they wouldn't have to break the bank to hire as well.
 
Little Richie can take dad's leftover recruits and never be outside of the top 5 in the Big Ten.
 
Well, Jay Bilas likes the hire, and that's good enough for me:

Jay Bilas@JayBilas2hGreat call by Minnesota to hire Richard Pitino. Richard is a really smart basketball mind, and fine young coach.
 

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron