University of Louisville former basketball coach Rick Pitino is returning to college basketball as the Iona College Head Coach.
Iona coach Tim Cluess announced Friday that he is stepping down due to health reasons after 10 seasons with the Gaels. Rick Pitino , the new Iona College head coach has taken three schools to the NCAA Final Four. Additionally, he has won tournaments with both the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. In 2017, Pitino was fired from Louisville post an FBI investigation into a pay-for play scandal involving a U of L recruit. Despite the turmoil, Iona College is willing to take on Pitino as the head coach and the talent that he has to offer. Pitino coached twice in the NBA with both the New York Knicks (1987), and the Boston Celtics (1997) where he was also the team president.
“At Iona, I will work with the same passion, hunger and drive that I’ve had for over 40 years.”
Rick Pitino
Pitino, who is from New York, told ESPN that Iona was the right fit for him because it brought him home. Importantly, he first plans to fulfill his commitments to Panathinaikos despite landing the new job.
Iona College just so happens to be in New Rochelle of Westchester County, a school that has been greatly effected by the coronavirus, having one of the largest cluster of cases in the country.
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“The priority in New Rochelle right now is helping students continue their education online in light of the coronavirus and I very much look forward to the day when the community is back on campus and to get to work on further elevating this strong program.
Rick Pitino
