History of Rick Pitino in Timeline
Richard Andrew Pitino is a highly experienced American basketball coach currently leading the men's team at St. John's University. His extensive coaching career includes roles at various NCAA Division I institutions such as Boston University, Providence College, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Iona University. Pitino also ventured into professional basketball, coaching the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics in the NBA. Adding to his international experience, he coached the Greek national team and Panathinaikos, a prominent club in the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague. Pitino's coaching journey reflects a dedication to basketball at both the collegiate and professional levels, in both domestic and international settings.
September 18, 1952: Richard Andrew Pitino's Birth
Richard Andrew Pitino was born on September 18, 1952.
1970: Enrolls at UMass Amherst
Rick Pitino enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1970.
1974: Begins Coaching Career at University of Hawaii
Rick Pitino began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Hawaii in 1974.
1974: Graduates from UMass
Rick Pitino graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1974.
1975: Becomes Full-Time Assistant Coach at Hawaii
Rick Pitino became a full-time assistant coach at the University of Hawaii in 1975.
1976: Assistant Coach at Syracuse University
Rick Pitino became an assistant coach at Syracuse University under Jim Boeheim in 1976.
1976: Marriage to Joanne Minardi
Rick Pitino married Joanne Minardi in 1976.
1977: NCAA Report on Sanctions Against Hawaii
An NCAA report in 1977 detailed sanctions against the University of Hawaii basketball program, implicating Rick Pitino in some of the infractions.
1978: Hired as Head Coach at Boston University
John Simpson, athletic director at Boston University, hired Rick Pitino as head coach in 1978.
1978: Begins Coaching at Boston University
Rick Pitino started his head coaching career at Boston University in 1978.
1979: Mike Flanagan wins AL Cy Young Award
Rick Pitino's UMass teammate, Mike Flanagan, won the AL Cy Young Award in 1979.
1983: Leaves Boston University
Rick Pitino left his coaching position at Boston University in 1983.
1985: Becomes Head Coach at Providence College
In 1985, Rick Pitino was hired as the head coach at Providence College.
1985: Returns to College Coaching at Providence College
Rick Pitino returned to college coaching, becoming head coach at Providence College in 1985.
July 14, 1987: Becomes Head Coach of the New York Knicks
Rick Pitino became the head coach of the New York Knicks on July 14, 1987.
1987: Death of Son, Daniel
In 1987, Rick Pitino's son, Daniel, passed away due to congenital heart failure at six months old. Subsequently, the Daniel Pitino Foundation and a shelter in Owensboro, Kentucky were established in his memory.
1987: Starts Coaching New York Knicks
Rick Pitino began coaching the New York Knicks in 1987.
1987: NCAA Adopts 3-Point Shot
The NCAA adopted the 3-point shot in 1987, a rule change that Rick Pitino would become known for utilizing effectively in his coaching strategies.
1988: Publication of "Born to Coach"
Rick Pitino published his autobiography, "Born to Coach," in 1988, detailing his life up to his time with the New York Knicks.
May 30, 1989: Resigns from the New York Knicks
Rick Pitino resigned from his position as head coach of the New York Knicks on May 30, 1989.
1989: Starts Coaching at University of Kentucky
Rick Pitino became the head coach at the University of Kentucky in 1989.
1989: Pitino Dismisses NCAA Report
Rick Pitino dismissed the 1977 NCAA report on sanctions against Hawaii in 1989.
1989: Returns to College Coaching at Kentucky
Rick Pitino returned to college coaching, becoming head coach at the University of Kentucky in 1989.
1990: Kentucky Ineligible for Tournaments Due to Sanctions
In 1990, the University of Kentucky basketball team was ineligible for both the NCAA and SEC tournaments because of sanctions stemming from violations during the Eddie Sutton era.
1991: Kentucky Ineligible for Tournaments Due to Sanctions
In 1991, the University of Kentucky basketball team was ineligible for both the NCAA and SEC tournaments because of sanctions stemming from violations during the Eddie Sutton era.
1993: Leads Kentucky to the Final Four
Rick Pitino led Kentucky to the Final Four in the 1993 NCAA tournament.
1996: NCAA Championship with Kentucky
Rick Pitino led the University of Kentucky to an NCAA Championship in 1996.
1996: Wins National Championship with Kentucky
Rick Pitino won a national championship with the University of Kentucky in 1996.
May 6, 1997: Hired as Head Coach of the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics hired Rick Pitino as head coach on May 6, 1997.
1997: Becomes Head Coach of Boston Celtics
Rick Pitino became the head coach of the Boston Celtics in 1997.
1997: Kentucky Reaches National Title Game
Rick Pitino's Kentucky team reached the national title game in 1997, losing to Arizona in overtime.
1998: Pitino's Struggles in Boston
During 1998, Rick Pitino's tenure as coach of the Boston Celtics was marked by difficulties, including a disappointing 19-31 record in the 1998-99 season. This further strained his relationship with the fans, who were already skeptical after the departure of M. L. Carr.
1998: Kentucky Wins National Championship
The University of Kentucky won the 1998 national championship after Rick Pitino left for the NBA.
March 1, 2000: Loss to the Toronto Raptors
The Boston Celtics, coached by Rick Pitino, lost to the Toronto Raptors on a buzzer-beater by Vince Carter on March 1, 2000.
January 8, 2001: Resigns from the Boston Celtics
Rick Pitino resigned from his position as head coach of the Boston Celtics on January 8, 2001.
March 21, 2001: Pitino Returns to College Coaching at Louisville
On March 21, 2001, Rick Pitino returned to college coaching, taking the helm at the University of Louisville after the retirement of Denny Crum. This marked a return to his adopted home state of Kentucky.
September 11, 2001: Loss of Brother-in-Law in 9/11 Attacks
On September 11, 2001, Rick Pitino's brother-in-law and close friend, Billy Minardi, died in the World Trade Center attacks.
2001: Leaves Boston Celtics
Rick Pitino resigned from his position as head coach of the Boston Celtics in 2001.
2002: Establishment of the Billy Minardi Classic
Starting in 2002, the University of Louisville established the annual Billy Minardi Classic basketball game and named a dormitory "Billy Minardi Hall" in honor of Pitino's deceased brother-in-law.
August 1, 2003: Encounter with Karen Cunagin Sypher
On August 1, 2003, Rick Pitino had a sexual encounter with Karen Cunagin Sypher at a Louisville restaurant, an event which would later be central to an extortion case against Sypher.
January 28, 2004: Pitino on Medical Leave During Houston Game
Rick Pitino was on medical leave during a game against Houston on January 28, 2004, but was still credited with the victory.
November 2005: Pitino Reprises "Larry Bird is not walking through that door" Speech
In November 2005, Rick Pitino revisited his famous quote about the Boston Celtics' past glory while coaching at Louisville. He used the speech to motivate his freshmen players, humorously challenging them to match the performance of past seniors.
2005: Louisville's Final Four Run and Subsequent Struggles
In 2005, Pitino led Louisville to their first Final Four appearance in 19 years, becoming the first men's coach to take three different schools to the Final Four. However, the team struggled the following season due to player departures, missing the NCAA tournament.
2005: Louisville Team Ties Single-Season Win Record
In 2005, Rick Pitino's Louisville team tied the school record for most wins in a single season (33).
2007: Louisville's Second-Place Finish in the Big East
In 2007, despite predictions of a low finish, Pitino guided Louisville to a second-place tie in the Big East Conference. He implemented new defensive strategies mid-season, but the team's run ended in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
2008: "Rebound Rules" Success at Kentucky Book Fair
In 2008, Rick Pitino's book, "Rebound Rules," became a bestseller at the Kentucky Book Fair.
2008: Louisville's Elite Eight Appearance
The 2008 Louisville Cardinals, finishing second in the Big East, reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament under Pitino's leadership, where they were defeated by North Carolina.
April 18, 2009: Extortion Attempt by Karen Cunagin Sypher
On April 18, 2009, Rick Pitino revealed that he was subject to an extortion attempt by Karen Cunagin Sypher.
2009: Louisville's Top Seed and Elite Eight Finish
In 2009, Louisville earned the top seed in the NCAA tournament but their journey ended in the Elite Eight with a loss to Michigan State.
August 6, 2010: Karen Cunagin Sypher Found Guilty of Extortion
On August 6, 2010, Karen Cunagin Sypher was found guilty of extortion and lying to federal agents in the case involving Rick Pitino and was sentenced to 87 months in prison.
December 20, 2010: Pitino Hired as Head Coach of Puerto Rico National Team
On December 20, 2010, Rick Pitino was appointed head coach of the Puerto Rico senior national team.
2010: Beginning of Louisville Sex Scandal
The escort sex scandal involving recruits at Louisville began in 2010. This scandal would later lead to significant repercussions for the program and Pitino.
2010: Louisville's First Round Upset
The 2010 NCAA tournament saw Louisville suffer a disappointing first-round upset against the California Golden Bears.
April 29, 2011: Pitino Steps Down from Puerto Rico National Team
On April 29, 2011, Pitino resigned from his position as head coach of the Puerto Rico national team due to scheduling conflicts and NCAA regulations.
2011: Chaz Williams Becomes UMass Career Assists Leader
Chaz Williams became the all-time assists leader at UMass in 2011.
2011: Louisville's Second Round Upset
In 2011, Louisville experienced another early exit from the NCAA tournament, losing to Morehead State in the second round.
2011: Louisville Vacates Wins Due to NCAA Investigation
Louisville was forced to vacate wins from the 2011-12 season due to an NCAA investigation.
2012: Louisville's Big East Championship and Final Four Run
In 2012, Pitino led Louisville to the Big East tournament championship and a Final Four appearance, where they lost to eventual champions Kentucky.
2012: Louisville Vacates Wins Due to NCAA Investigation
Louisville was forced to vacate wins from the 2012-13 season due to an NCAA investigation.
2013: Louisville Wins NCAA Title, Later Vacated
The 2013 Louisville team, coached by Rick Pitino, won the NCAA title, but the win was later vacated.
2013: Louisville Championship Vacated
The University of Louisville's 2013 national championship was vacated due to a scandal in 2013.
2013: Goldencents Runs in Kentucky Derby
Rick Pitino's horse, Goldencents, competed in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, finishing 17th.
2013: Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Rick Pitino was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
2013: NCAA Championship with Louisville
Rick Pitino led the University of Louisville to an NCAA Championship in 2013.
2013: Louisville Vacates Wins Due to NCAA Investigation
Louisville was forced to vacate wins from the 2013-14 season due to an NCAA investigation.
2013: Louisville's National Championship Victory
In 2013, Rick Pitino achieved a historic milestone by leading Louisville to a national championship victory, becoming the first NCAA Division I coach to win championships with two different schools.
2014: Chaz Williams' Final Season at UMass
Chaz Williams finished his final season at UMass in 2014.
2014: Louisville Vacates Wins Due to NCAA Investigation
Louisville was forced to vacate wins from the 2014-15 season due to an NCAA investigation.
2014: End of Louisville Sex Scandal
The escort sex scandal involving recruits at Louisville ended in 2014 after four years.
2015: Louisville Self-Imposes Postseason Ineligibility
Louisville self-imposed a postseason ban for the 2015-16 season due to an ongoing NCAA investigation.
2015: Louisville Self-Imposes Postseason Ban
In 2015, the University of Louisville self-imposed a postseason ban for the 2015-16 season due to an ongoing NCAA investigation into an escort sex scandal involving recruits.
2015: Pitino Coaches Puerto Rico in FIBA Americas Championship
In 2015, Rick Pitino coached the Puerto Rican national team at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City, where they finished in fifth place.
January 2017: Karen Cunagin Sypher's Release to Halfway House
In January 2017, Karen Cunagin Sypher was released to a halfway house after serving time in prison for extortion against Rick Pitino.
June 3, 2017: Brian Bowen Commits to Louisville
On June 3, 2017, Brian Bowen committed to play basketball at the University of Louisville, a decision that later became entangled in the "pay for play" investigation.
June 2017: Suspended by the NCAA
The NCAA suspended Rick Pitino for five games of the 2017-18 season in June 2017 for lack of oversight in a recruiting scandal.
June 15, 2017: NCAA Charges Pitino with Failure to Monitor Program
On June 15, 2017, the NCAA charged Rick Pitino with failure to monitor his basketball program, which was embroiled in a sex-for-pay scandal. He received a five-game suspension for the 2017-18 ACC season.
September 26, 2017: Federal Investigation into "Pay for Play" Allegations
On September 26, 2017, federal prosecutors announced an investigation into alleged "pay for play" schemes involving recruits at Louisville, potentially connected to the recruitment of Brian Bowen.
October 3, 2017: Revised Date of Pitino's Resignation
After reaching a settlement with the University of Louisville, October 3, 2017, was established as the official date of Rick Pitino's resignation.
October 16, 2017: Initial Date of Pitino's Firing
October 16, 2017, was initially recorded as the date of Rick Pitino's firing from the University of Louisville, later changed to a resignation date after a legal settlement.
2017: Suspension and Firing from Louisville
Rick Pitino was suspended and later fired from the University of Louisville in 2017 due to a recruiting scandal.
February 20, 2018: NCAA Vacates Louisville's 2013 National Championship
On February 20, 2018, the NCAA took the unprecedented step of vacating Louisville's 2013 national championship title and their 2012 Final Four appearance due to the sex scandal.
December 26, 2018: Pitino Debuts in EuroLeague with Panathinaikos
On December 26, 2018, Rick Pitino made his EuroLeague coaching debut with Panathinaikos, marking a new chapter in his career.
2018: Coaches Panathinaikos
Rick Pitino became the head coach of Panathinaikos in 2018.
2018: Publication of "Pitino: My Story"
Rick Pitino's biography, "Pitino: My Story," was released in 2018, providing his perspective on the Adidas scandal and his departure from the University of Louisville.
February 17, 2019: Panathinaikos Wins Greek Cup
On February 17, 2019, Panathinaikos, coached by Rick Pitino, won the Greek Cup, defeating PAOK in the final.
September 18, 2019: Pitino Settles Lawsuit with University of Louisville
On September 18, 2019, Rick Pitino settled his $38.7 million lawsuit against the University of Louisville Athletic Association (ULAA). His termination was officially changed from firing to resignation.
November 8, 2019: Rick Pitino Hired as Head Coach of Greece's National Team
On November 8, 2019, Rick Pitino was appointed as the head coach for the Greek national basketball team. He was set to lead the team in the 2020 FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament and the subsequent 2020 Summer Olympics, if Greece qualified.
November 26, 2019: Pitino Returns to Panathinaikos
On November 26, 2019, Rick Pitino returned to coach Panathinaikos on a two-year deal, following the dismissal of Argyris Pedoulakis.
March 14, 2020: Pitino Named Head Coach of Iona College
On March 14, 2020, Rick Pitino was appointed head coach of Iona College, following Tim Cluess's resignation due to health reasons.
March 2020: EuroLeague Season Suspended Due to COVID-19
In March 2020, the EuroLeague season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interrupting Pitino's second stint with Panathinaikos.
2020: Iona's MAAC Tournament Win and NCAA Tournament Appearance
In 2020, Pitino led Iona to an unexpected MAAC tournament victory, securing a spot in the NCAA tournament. This made him the third coach to guide five different programs to the NCAA tournament.
2020: Coaches Iona University
Rick Pitino began coaching Iona University in 2020.
2021: High Ranking Among Active Collegiate Coaches
As of the 2021-2022 season, Rick Pitino's .708 winning percentage ranked 11th among active NCAA Division I men's basketball coaches.
2021: Pitino's Official Record Updated by NCAA
At the end of the 2021-22 season, the NCAA officially listed Rick Pitino's coaching record as 684-282.
2022: High Ranking in NCAA Tournament Winning Percentage
As of 2022, Rick Pitino held the seventh-highest winning percentage (.730) among coaches with at least 50 NCAA Tournament games.
March 20, 2023: Named Head Coach at St. John's University
Rick Pitino was named the head basketball coach at St. John's University on March 20, 2023.
2023: Named Head Coach at St. John's University
Rick Pitino was named head basketball coach at St. John's University in 2023.