Pitino At It Again

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

This is the most important time of the year for the Celtics and Pitino's
spending six hours discussing a new job. Thanks to BSG for mentioning
this article, slightly different than Bulpett's interpretation of
the event (see his article below this one)... 

Hurricanes talk with Pitino 

By ANDREA SZULSZTEYN and CRAIG BARNES Staff Writers       
Web-posted: 12:13 a.m. June 27, 2000

Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino, who led Kentucky to a national
championship in 1996, has talked to the University of Miami about
becoming its men's basketball coach, sources said.
   UM Athletic Director Paul Dee flew to Boston and had a six-hour
meeting with Pitino on Saturday, a source said. The two spoke again on
the telephone Monday.
   No decision apparently has been made. Dee and Pitino could not be
reached for comment Monday.
   Pitino, 90-124 in three seasons with the Celtics, could be an
expensive hire for UM. In 1997, Pitino signed a deal that would pay him
$7 million a year to coach for six years. After that, the deal calls for
him to make $2 million a year for four years as team president.
   Leonard Hamilton, who left UM two weeks ago to become the coach of
the Washington Wizards, signed a contract extension in April that would
have paid him $750,000 a season. UM football coach Butch Davis' contract
is of similar value to Hamilton's.
   Dee has met with South Florida coach Seth Greenberg; Rick Barry, a
former UM standout and USBL coach; and Creighton's Dana Altman. Dee has
received permission to speak with Kent's Gary Waters. Tulane's Perry
Clark and UM assistants Dwight Freeman and Stan Jones also are
candidates.
   Pitino is easily the most recognizable coach of the candidates, and
if he were to accept the job, would be the highest profile coach to go
to UM in any sport. Earlier in the year, he also had been rumored for
coaching jobs with the New Jersey Nets and at North Carolina and
Kentucky.
   A return to collegiate coaching may be intriguing to Pitino, who has
had limited success with the Celtics. Pitino established himself as one
of the premier college coaches through stints at Boston University,
Providence and Kentucky.
   In 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Pitino is 352-124 and has
made four Final Four appearances. At Providence, he took the Friars to
the 1987 Final Four. He spent 1989-97 at Kentucky, where he won a
national championship in 1996, and is one of 11 coaches to take two
schools' teams to the Final Four.
   Pitino also served for two seasons as New York Knicks coach, taking
the Knicks to the playoffs both seasons before leaving for Kentucky.
   The three seasons in Boston have been especially trying for Pitino,
who had only two losing seasons before joining the Celtics. Earlier this
year, Pitino said he would give some thought to leaving the Celtics if
things did not improve.
   "I'm going to give some thought process into whether I'm making a
difference in the lives of athletes because that's where I get my
gratification," Pitino said. "I've been to four Final Fours and that's
nice. It really is. What I'm saying is if there comes a day when I don't
feel I'm teaching all those things, then I will look at myself and say
maybe a change is possible."
   At the time, Pitino also said he would not hesitate to leave in the
middle of his Celtics contract.
   "(Celtics Chairman) Paul Gaston gave me a unique opportunity to coach
one of the greatest franchises of all-time, and I'm not in it to say
that I have a 10-year contract," Pitino said. "What I will say is this,
'Thanks Paul, I appreciate the opportunity very much. You keep your
money and spend it wisely on players.'"


Rick turns down 'Canes
by Steve Bulpett 
Tuesday, June 27, 2000


There are those who believe Rick Pitino is looking for greener pastures,
but sources indicated he turned down an opportunity to work in a place
where the grass is green 12 months a year.

The Celtics coach is said to have definitively passed on a chance to be
the head coach at the University of Miami. That job opened when Leonard
Hamilton left to take the top bench job with the Washington Wizards two
weeks ago.

Pitino confirmed last night that he spoke with Miami officials,
discussing the situation with basketball acquaintances there merely as a
sounding board and to offer assistance. It is not uncommon at all for
Pitino to talk with schools who seek his advice on coaching hires.

``I've spoken with three schools (recently) about their openings, but
it's just a matter of talking with people I know to help them out,''
said Pitino, who was in lengthy Celtics meetings yesterday preparing for
tomorrow night's NBA draft.

When Miami officials turned the subject to Pitino and the position, the
Celts leader shut it down quickly.

Southern sources also said Pitino mentioned C's associate coach Jim
O'Brien as a possible candidate at Miami. There is no indication,
however, that O'Brien is looking to leave the Celts or that it was
anything more than Pitino trying to give him an opportunity to check the
marketplace.