Rick Pitino is back in the news, although where the truth lies in the latest story regarding the former Celtics coach remains to be seen.
The New York Daily News reported Thursday that Pitino "reached out" to New Jersey Nets officials recently to make himself a candidate for their head coaching position, a job currently held by former NBA player Kiki Vandeweghe, who is the team's GM as well as interim coach following the November dismissal of Lawrence Frank.
The Daily News story, as well as ESPN, also reported that Nets president Rod Thorn denied having any contact with Pitino, now the coach at Louisville. However, multiple reports indicate both men attended the funeral of Knicks Hall of Famer Dick McGuire earlier this week.
ESPN reported that Pitino's "people" may have reached out to incoming Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, a Russian billionaire who is expected to be approved by the NBA's Board of Governors next month.
Pitino, who coached both the Knicks and the Celtics, may be looking for a way out of Louisville, which happens to be in New York for a game vs. St. John's tonight. Pitino is from New York (the Nets are planning to move to Brooklyn), and also has reportedly grown weary of the attention he's received in Louisville for a sex scandal involving the wife of a former assistant.
Plus, Louisville is overshadowed in its home state by Kentucky, which is among the nation's best teams under first-year coach John Calipari. Pitino was Kentucky's coach for eight seasons.
Pitino bombed as Celtics coach. He was 102-146 in four seasons -- with no playoff appearances -- and was replaced by Jim O'Brien in the 2000-01 season.
So the little gustapo is trying to worm his way back to the NBA. I found this report this morning interesting. Sanctions must be on the way for Louisville!
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