Minnesota has sacked Richard Pitino for men’s basketball coach after eight seasons, the school announced Monday. During his tenure, Pitino picked up an overall record of 141-123. He took the program during two games in the NCAA Tournament, but his team finished four of its eight seasons at the helm with a losing record.
“I met Richard recently and told him we were moving in a different direction,” Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle said in a statement. “Richard is a great person and coach, and I want to thank him, Jill and their family for their dedication to Minnesota. We wish them well with their next effort.
“Decisions like these are never easy, but after evaluating this season and the previous eight years of our program under Richard, it is clear to me that new leadership is needed. We have one of the best practice facilities in the country,” he said. a historic competition, a place and a state that produces the best quality talent. This is an extremely attractive job, and we will immediately start a nationwide search for our next head coach. ”
Pitino’s mediocre performance at work did not turn him into a saga, and this did not exclude him from opportunities in the near future. Goodman also reported that Pitino is a finalist for the position in New Mexico – along with former Nebraska coach Tim Miles – and that in the coming days it will be decided from the program who will fill the opening.
Pitino, 38, was hired by Minnesota in 2013 at the age of 31 after just one season of head coaching experience at Florida International. There, he led the Panthers to their first winning season in 13 years. He also had previous experience as an assistant in Louisville, Florida, Duquesne and Northeastern.
Minnesota led 14-15 in the 2020-21 season and dropped out at the end of the year, losing eight of its last nine games to close out the season. The writing was on the wall that a separation of manners was probably imminent. Pitino knew just as much that he allegedly undertook an interview for the job in New Mexico, and the uncomfortable reality last week in a press conference with an enlightening response to his approach to it all.
“Not much bothers me,” he said. “What am I going to do, do I speak in things? That’s not what I do. I have respect for authority. That’s really it. It’s not my decision. We all have bosses, that’s OK. I have a good relationship with Mark [Coyle]. If he’s giving me bad news, it does not mean I’m going to turn around a desk or something. Life goes on. “
Minnesota’s decision to divorce Pitino opens the second vacancy in the Big Ten of the day after Indiana coach Archie Miller fired Monday. Miller coached the Hoosiers for four seasons, but he could not lead the program to the NCAA Tournament.