Rick Pitino, former Louisville coach, says he will not head to Maryland basketball
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After several reports surfaced linking Iona coach Rick Pitino to the University of Maryland head coaching job, Pitino put those rumors to rest on Twitter Thursday.
"I love coaching at Iona, and I’m totally committed to my players," part of Pitino's tweet stated. "It will not be me."
A report on "The Sports Junkies" radio show on 106.7 The Fan in Washington Wednesday claimed Maryland was "heavily pursuing" Pitino to replace Mark Turgeon as head coach. Pitino, 69, is in his second season at Iona and has led the Gaels to a 23-5 overall record this season.
The University of Maryland is one of the premier institutions of higher learning. It's basketball program can be among the nation’s best. I hope they find the next great Gary Williams. I love coaching at Iona, and I’m totally committed to my players. It will not be me.
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) March 3, 2022
Pitino coached Louisville from 2001 to 2017, leading the Cardinals to the since-vacated 2013 national title. He also coached at Kentucky from 1989 until 1997 and led the Wildcats 1996 national title.
More Pitino news: Merl Code’s new book claims Rick Pitino sought Adidas' help in recruiting Brian Bowen
Merl Code book controversy
The former Louisville and Kentucky head coach is also in the midst of trying to block a book that portrays him as a willing accomplice in the bribery scheme that led Brian Bowen to U of L.
Pitino's professions of innocence in the Bowen case are contradicted in Merl Code's "Black Market: An Insider's Journey Into the High-Stakes World of College Basketball."
"As a consultant for Adidas, I did not act on my own, nor could I have done so," Code writes. "I simply ran the proposition by my bosses, who did the same after consulting with Rick Pitino, and the answer that came back from up high was, 'Rick wants our help. Get it done.'"
Louisville also in search of a coach
Maryland isn't the only college searching for a new coach. A month after parting ways with Chris Mack, the Louisville men's basketball team is in the process of finding its next leader.
One of the most-talked about candidate's is former Cardinals player and current New York Knicks assistant coach Kenny Payne. While Payne has no head coaching experience, Pitino said he hopes Payne is named the next Louisville coach.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Rick Pitino says he will not be the next Maryland basketball coach
