By Kuldeep Rathore
Sports
Rick Pitino Is Advised To Attend Two Schools
Iona hopes to win the MAAC regular-season championship for a second consecutive year and advance to the NCAA tourney twice in three years under the direction of Rick Pitino.
The Independent Review Panel of the Independent Accountability Resolution Process cleared the head coach prior to the start of the 2022–23 season, stating that he "promoted an environment of conformity" in Louisville's pay-for-play controversy.
According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Pitino is "a top contender" for Georgia, and "curiosities linger about St. John's" and other high-profile openings.
Pitino isn't necessarily searching for a new school, though, unless he discovers somewhere "really, really special" with a leader he admires as much as Seamus Carey did at Iona.
"If I wanted to leave, it would be a job that I thought could get to a Final Four," Pitino told Norlander. "It would be a great place where I want to live, but I don't see it happening. I don't see it happening. I'm really tied into these kids. And they came because of me."
Pitino claimed to have gotten three offers, one of which was for "a big-time position" at Maryland, according to Norlander. The head coach, who is 70 years old, also said his departure would make things more difficult.
In Patrick Ewing's sixth season as head coach, Georgetown is 7-21, and the Hoyas have only won two Big East games in the previous two years.
Under Mike Anderson, St. John's has achieved its fourth consecutive successful campaign, but the Red Storm has not participated in the NCAA playoffs since 2019.
Both esteemed Big East teams could benefit from a reorganization to recapture their former glories. Pitino should unquestionably be seen as a marquee appointment.