04-17-2012, 08:55 AM
Richard Pitino to FIU official
Richard Pitino had two options. He could remain part of his father's coaching staff at Louisville and aim at returning to the Final Four next season, or take over a program that hasn't posted a winning record since he was a teenager.
And Rick Pitino's son apparently thinks it's time to start making his own name.
He signed a five-year contract with Florida International on Monday, agreeing to be paid $250,000 annually in base salary â less than he was making at Louisville, but a deal that allows the 29-year-old to lead a program for the first time.
"I may be young," Richard Pitino said, "but I'm not inexperienced."
FIU was 8-21 past season. Its last winning record â all of 16-14 â came in 1999-2000. The Panthers are 112-243 since.
Pitino knows the numbers, and is undeterred.
"It may not always be pretty. It may not always be easy," Pitino said. "But we're going to get it done."
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/17/21539...rylink=cpy
Richard Pitino had two options. He could remain part of his father's coaching staff at Louisville and aim at returning to the Final Four next season, or take over a program that hasn't posted a winning record since he was a teenager.
And Rick Pitino's son apparently thinks it's time to start making his own name.
He signed a five-year contract with Florida International on Monday, agreeing to be paid $250,000 annually in base salary â less than he was making at Louisville, but a deal that allows the 29-year-old to lead a program for the first time.
"I may be young," Richard Pitino said, "but I'm not inexperienced."
FIU was 8-21 past season. Its last winning record â all of 16-14 â came in 1999-2000. The Panthers are 112-243 since.
Pitino knows the numbers, and is undeterred.
"It may not always be pretty. It may not always be easy," Pitino said. "But we're going to get it done."
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/17/21539...rylink=cpy