Jon Rothstein @jonrothstein College Basketball's Hungriest Insider CBS Sports "Stay hungry, Stay humble"
Rick Pitino on Iona: "I'm incredibly excited. I started my journey in basketball in Manhattan. I'm now able to end my journey in New Rochelle. I've admired the stellar job that Tim Cluess has done. I'm going to try and carry that on and elevate it to prominence."
Pitino continued: "I missed college basketball when I was in Greece. I'm back home where it all started. It's the greatest feeling in the world."
BREAKING: Iona will hire Rick Pitino as its next head basketball coach, per Gaels' Athletic Director Matt Glovaski.
Matt Glovaski on Rick Pitino: "His energy, desire, willingness to build a winning program will be a great fit for Iona."
I guess Iona forgot about this ... or they just didn't care....
The Iona AD and a few of their big time boosters apparently didn't care about this:
The University of Louisville's Athletics Association officially voted on Monday to fire men's head basketball coach Rick Pitino "with just cause" amid a federal investigation that saw 10 people arrested, accused of corruption and taking bribes, according to Jeff Borzello of ESPN.
Pitino, 65, was placed on unpaid administrative leave last month (Sept. 2017) by interim university President Greg Postel after school officials admitted they were in involved in the investigation concerning recruit bribery in an attempt to steer players to certain schools and shoe apparel companies.
On Oct. 2, the ULAA authorized Postel to start the process of terminating Pitino for cause.
The next day, Pitino received a letter from Postel informing him that he violated his employment contract and that allegations in the federal government complaint "insinuate a scheme of fraud and malfeasance'" in recruiting, which gave the school a reason to put Pitino on unpaid leave.
I think that for a school like Iona facing the demographic pressure all colleges are going to encounter, and the disruption — financial and otherwise— of this virus, bringing Pitino in is just too good to pass up.
What's shocking is how many prominent media folks are applauding this move. Mike Francesa just tweeted glowing praise for Pitino and what a great coach he is. Has the media already forgotten what Pitino got fired for at Louisville?
Iona now is going to be the MAAC's traveling circus next year. The Gaels will get tons of national publicity and the crowds for their games will be huge - but for all the wrong reasons.
I can already predict the game at Fairfield next season will be packed - and 2/3 of the fans could be Iona fans.
It won't be packed because it will be in Bridgeport. Alumni Hall will be long gone.
Post by stagthomas on Mar 14, 2020 15:38:47 GMT -5
Did I already mention Jay Young's job just got that much harder?
Zach Braziller @nypost_Brazille · 21m Rick Pitino: “I took the job wanting it to be my last job. I spoke to numerous people about it and I’m glad I’m ending it with a small Catholic school that has the potential to be built up into a major power. It's a perfect fit at a perfect time in my life.” #icmbb
"I am delighted to welcome Rick Pitino to Gael Nation," Iona director of athletics Matthew Glovaski said in a statement. "Rick is a Hall of Fame coach who has won at the highest levels and he is committed to leading our student-athletes and our program to national prominence. He brings passion and energy and shares our desire to build a winning program that will make our community proud."
"Rick has demonstrated that he cares deeply about helping student-athletes achieve great success on and off the court," said Iona College President Seamus Carey. "After a thorough interview process we are confident that Rick's experience and commitment to Iona and our community make him the right person to continue to build on Tim Cluess' success. We welcome Rick and his family to New Rochelle and look forward to accomplishing big things together."