Rick Pitino has been trotting up and down sidelines for 40 years but in a new book entitled “My Story” that was released today, he feels that his coaching days may be all but over. Pitino has been neck deep in scandal the past few years due to the 2015 Louisville sex scandal and last year’s FBI probe into shoe companies suspected recruitment violations amongst notable high school star players. With Pitino’s apparent involvement or knowledge of such egregious behaviors, he fears he may be unofficially blackballed from coaching in the college ranks.
He said that “There was one job this past year, that I really did want. They called the NCAA and the NCAA said, ‘We’re handcuffed. The FBI will not allow us to investigate, we can’t give you a yes or no on Rick Pitino because we’re not allowed to investigate.” This all but tells us that Pitino is basically excommunicado a la John Wick. You can’t spill that much blood on company soil and still expect to be welcome in the fraternity.
Once renowned as one of the best NCAA coaches to ever grace the hardwood, Pitino’s name is now invoked in conversations concerning sanctions and stripper parties as opposed to Final Fours and conference titles. Due to investigations into his program, Pitino has the dubious distinction of being the only Division I men’s basketball coach to ever have an NCAA title vacated. The 2013 squad that won it all was right in the middle of a scandal that included several violations including underage sex and prostitution.
Maybe one day his image will be restored and he will be celebrated for his many accomplishments in the game but for now it looks like Rick Pitino won’t be welcomed to any NCAA holiday parties anytime soon.