Florida International recently fired head coach Isiah Thomas and now the team is putting another recognizable name in the drivers seat, Richard Pitino. News of the replacement was leaked on Sunday by Louisville head coach Rick Pitino who said his son would leave the Cardinals to become the head coach of next seasons FIU team.
Richard Pitino won’t have his work cut out for him with FIU posting 12 straight losing seasons.
FIU moved fast to place Thomas who they fired on April 6 after going 26-65 in three seasons of play.
At this time the Panthers have not confirmed the hiring of Richard Pitino and plays have not come forward to confirm the deal.
Speaking to the press Rick Pitino said:
“You know I’m delighted, but I’m going miss (him) terribly. I think one of the great things in 35 years of coaching was spending three years with him. Watch him grow as a basketball coach, and you sort of don’t want it to end.”
Rick Pitino did admit that the contract had not yet be signed but everything was progressing nicely.
Working with his father during this past season Richard Pitino helped take the Louisville Cardinals to the Final Four where they lost to cross town rivals the Kentucky Wildcats. Richard Pitino has also worked for Duquesne, Northeastern and the College of Charleston.
In the meantime Richard Pitino will have a mess to clean up after two players who verbally committed to FIU said they would back out because of the Isiah Thomas firing. In the meantime various other players have asked to be released from their scholarships so they can play for other programs, requests that FIU has declined.
Why players would want to play for a coach that brought them to an 8-21 record last season is beyond me.
