Rick Pitino did not want Richard Pitino to leave New Mexico. Despite the calls from other programs, Rick felt like he knew what was best for his son.
Then Xavier called the younger Pitino and everything changed. His father was thrilled at the opportunity for him to move closer to the east coast and join a power conference that values basketball, which now means the two will play each other at least twice per season.
Richard Pitino was formally introduced as the head coach of the Musketeers on Tuesday and explained his family’s thought process behind leaving the Lobos.
“Not to say I had a million schools call,” Pitino explained. “But a lot of schools called. Did that mean they offered me jobs? No, that did not. Now, I had a couple offers. Every time I had an offer, [Rick Pitino] told me stay at New Mexico.”
Richard Pitino had just led the program to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and created one of the best teams and atmospheres in the country. He was one of the hottest coaching commodities but when Xavier inquired, it was too great of an opportunity to pass up.
“He saw the way the community embraced me in Albuquerque” Richard Pitino added about his father’s advice. “He saw how much we were winning, and he saw how happy I was. When Xavier called, he changed his tune.”
Xavier head coach Sean Miller left to become the next leader of Texas and created the vacancy.
“There was no bigger fan of taking Xavier than my dad,” he continued.
The two battled this season at Madison Square Garden in November for the fourth time with Rick Pitino winning three of those games.
“I know it’s going to be very, very hard to beat him,” Richard said.
St. John’s has already started the reloading process of its roster after winning the undisputed Big East Championship and reaching the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, and could be a preseason Top-10 team entering next season but its matchups with Xavier will be some of the most anticipated games the conference next season.