The Big East Conference has always been a tight knit group, but now it has become family league.
Multiple reports on Tuesday night confirmed that Xavier will hire Richard Pitino, the son of St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino, after the departure of Sean Miller to Texas. The news came moments after Chis Mack, the current College of Charleston head coach and ex-Xavier coach, removed his name from consideration on social media.
“Just about a year ago my family joined me at Cistern Yard to celebrate the start of something special here in Charleston. You have been incredibly supportive from day one. The Macks can’t wait to run it back in year two,” he said.
Cougar Nation
— Chris Mack (@CoachChrisMack) March 26, 2025
Just about a year ago my family joined me at Cistern Yard to celebrate the start of something special here in Charleston. You have been incredibly supportive from day one. The Macks can’t wait to run it back in year two. Better than ever.
Go Cougs!!
Now, the league gets at least two installments of Pitino vs. Pitino each season. The father and son scheduled a game this year in November at Madison Square Garden, which was won by Rick and the Johnnies. It was the fourth time the two have met – with the father winning three games.
“It doesn't even feel like a factor, honestly,” Richard Pitino said in November prior to when the two teams met. “I mean, this is the fourth time we've done it. There's no extra motivation, extra anything.”
Pitino just led New Mexico to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Michigan State. Rick Pitino traveled to Cleveland to watch the game after St. John’s was eliminated by Arkansas a day earlier.
“During the game, you really don't know each other is on the sidelines at that point,” Rick Pitino said about coaching against his son. “You're so focused on stopping the opponent, stopping the players, that you don't really pay attention to coaches.”
Xavier will be Richard Pitino’s second stop at a power conference after he was the head coach at Minnesota for eight years, accumulating a 141-123 record with two NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT Championship.
He was 88-49 in four seasons at New Mexico with two NCAA Tournament berths, a Mountain West Tournament Championship, Mountain West regular season championship, and NIT appearance.
St. John’s has won three of four matchups against Xavier since Rick Pitino arrived in Queens.