Rick Pitino facts for kids
Pitino in a press conference for the 2013 Final Four
|
|
| St. John's Red Storm | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 18, 1952 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| High school | St. Dominic (Oyster Bay, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | UMass (1971–1974) |
| Coaching career | 1974–present |
| League | Big East Conference |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1974–1976 | Hawaii (assistant) |
| 1976 | Hawaii (interim HC) |
| 1976–1978 | Syracuse (assistant) |
| 1978–1983 | Boston University |
| 1983–1985 | New York Knicks (assistant) |
| 1985–1987 | Providence |
| 1987–1989 | New York Knicks |
| 1989–1997 | Kentucky |
| 1997–2001 | Boston Celtics |
| 2001–2017 | Louisville |
| 2015 | Puerto Rico |
| 2018–2020 | Panathinaikos |
| 2019–2021 | Greece |
| 2020–2023 | Iona |
| 2023–present | St. John's |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| As head coach: Championships
Accomplishments and honors
|
|
Richard Andrew Pitino (born September 18, 1952) is a famous American basketball coach. He is currently the head coach for the men's basketball team at St. John's University. He has also coached the Greek national team. Pitino has led many teams in both NCAA Division I college basketball and the NBA.
He led the University of Kentucky to an NCAA championship in 1996. He also guided the University of Louisville to a national championship in 2013. He was the first coach to take three different schools (Providence, Kentucky, and Louisville) to the NCAA Final Four. He is also the only coach to win a national championship at two different schools.
In 2013, he was chosen for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor for basketball coaches. In 2017, he left Louisville and later returned to coaching after working as a broadcaster. On March 20, 2023, he became the head basketball coach at St. John's University.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Rick Pitino was born in New York City. He grew up in Bayville, New York. He was the captain of the basketball team at St. Dominic High School. This school is in Oyster Bay, Long Island.
Pitino started college at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1970. He was a great point guard for the Minutemen basketball team. He was 6 feet tall. Pitino was known for his many assists. He led his team in assists during his junior and senior years.
He was a freshman at UMass when future NBA star Julius Erving was a junior. They did not play on the same team because freshmen could not play varsity basketball back then. Pitino earned his degree from UMass in 1974.
Coaching Career Highlights
Rick Pitino has had a long and successful coaching career. He has coached many teams in college and the NBA.
Starting Out: College Assistant Coach
Pitino began his coaching journey in 1974. He was a graduate assistant at the University of Hawaii. He became a full-time assistant in 1975. He even served as Hawaii's temporary head coach for six games in 1976.
From 1976 to 1978, Pitino was an assistant coach at Syracuse University. He was the first assistant hired by coach Jim Boeheim.
First Head Coaching Jobs
In 1978, Pitino became the head coach at Boston University. The team had not won many games before he arrived. Pitino helped turn the team around. He used a special full-court press defense. This helped Boston University reach its first NCAA tournament in 24 years.
After Boston University, Pitino became an assistant coach for the New York Knicks in the NBA. He worked there from 1983 to 1985.
In 1985, Pitino went back to college coaching. He became the head coach at Providence College. The team had a tough season before he arrived. Just two years later, Pitino led Providence to the Final Four. A player on that team, Billy Donovan, later became a successful coach himself.
NBA Head Coach: New York Knicks
Pitino became the head coach of the New York Knicks on July 14, 1987. The team had only won 24 games the year before. In just two years, Pitino led the Knicks to their first division title in almost 20 years. He left the Knicks on May 30, 1989.
Kentucky Wildcats: National Champions
In 1989, Pitino returned to college coaching at the University of Kentucky. The Kentucky program was facing challenges. Pitino quickly made the team strong again. He led Kentucky to the Final Four in 1993. Then, in 1996, his team won a national championship. This was Kentucky's sixth NCAA Championship.
The next year, Kentucky made it to the national title game again. They lost in overtime to Arizona. Pitino's teams at Kentucky were known for their fast-paced style. They used a strong full-court pressure defense. He later called Kentucky "the Roman Empire of college basketball."
Boston Celtics: Back to the NBA
Pitino went back to the NBA in 1997. He was hired as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. He also served as the team president. He had full control over basketball decisions. He coached the Celtics until January 2001.
Louisville Cardinals: Another Championship
On March 21, 2001, Pitino returned to college coaching. He became the coach at the University of Louisville. In 2005, he led Louisville to their first Final Four in 19 years. He became the first men's coach to lead three different schools to the Final Four.
In 2012, Pitino coached Louisville to win the Big East tournament. They also made it to the Final Four. In 2013, Pitino led the Louisville Cardinals to win their third national championship. They beat Michigan 82–76. This made him the first NCAA Division I coach to win a championship with two different schools.
In 2018, the NCAA announced that Louisville's 2013 National Championship and 2012 Final Four appearance were officially removed from the records. This was the first time a men's basketball national title was removed by the NCAA.
Coaching Overseas and Return to College
On December 26, 2018, Pitino became the head coach of Panathinaikos. This is a team in Greece. He led them to win the Greek Cup in 2019. They also won the Greek League championship that season. He coached Panathinaikos until March 2020.
On March 14, 2020, Pitino was named the head coach of Iona College. He coached Iona until 2023. On March 20, 2023, Pitino became the head coach of St. John's.
National Team Coaching
Pitino has also coached national basketball teams.
Puerto Rico National Team
On December 20, 2010, Pitino was hired to coach the Puerto Rico national team. He coached them at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship. They finished in 5th place.
Greece National Team
On November 8, 2019, Pitino was hired to coach the Greece's senior national team. He was set to coach Greece in the 2020 FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament and the 2020 Summer Olympics if they qualified.
Personal Life
Rick Pitino is married to Joanne Minardi. They have five children. One of their sons, Richard, is also a college basketball coach. He coaches the New Mexico Lobos.
Author and Achievements
Pitino has written several books. One is a motivational book called Success is a Choice. He also wrote an autobiography called Born to Coach. His book Rebound Rules was very popular. His most recent book, Pitino: My Story, came out in 2018.
In 2005, Pitino's Louisville team won 33 games. This was a school record at the time. The 2013 NCAA championship team later won 35 games. Pitino is one of only two men's coaches in NCAA history to lead three different schools (Providence, Kentucky, and Louisville) to the Final Four.
As of 2022, Pitino's winning percentage in NCAA Tournament games was very high. It ranked seventh among all coaches.
Thoroughbred Horse Racing
Beyond basketball, Pitino loves thoroughbred horse racing. He is a partner in Celtic Pride Stable and Ol Memorial Stable. He has owned famous horses like A P Valentine and Halory Hunter. He also owns a share of a horse named Goldencents. Goldencents won a big race in 2013.
Legacy in Basketball
As a college head coach, Pitino has a great record. He has won 684 games and lost 282. This is a winning percentage of .708. This ranks him among the top coaches in college basketball history.
Pitino is known for using the 3-point shot a lot. The NCAA started using the 3-point shot in 1987. His Kentucky teams in the 1990s were called "Pitino's Bombinos." This was because they scored many points from three-pointers. His teams are still known for their 3-point shooting. They are also known for their strong full-court press and 2-3 zone defensive styles.
Many of Pitino's former players and assistant coaches have become successful coaches themselves. More than 20 of them have become Division I head coaches. These include Billy Donovan, Tubby Smith, Herb Sendek, Mick Cronin, and his son, Richard Pitino.
Images for kids
-
Pitino in a press conference for the 2013 Final Four
-
Pitino in 1999
-
Pitino addresses the crowd before Louisville's 2012 Red-White Scrimmage
-
Pitino being interviewed by Jim Nantz after Louisville's victory in the 2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game.
