Report: Pitino to leave.

[Jim Hill <jahill@leasingservice.com>]

Saw this article this morning.  <Jim

Report: Pitino to Leave Celtics After Season
Updated 5:28 AM ET November 22, 2000


 BOSTON (Reuters) - Rick Pitino, whose collegiate coaching success has never
followed him to the NBA, reportedly will leave the Boston Celtics at the end
of the season.

Citing sources close to the Celtics' coach and president, the Boston Globe
is reporting that Pitino told his team he will leave after the 2000-01
season.

The report says Pitino informed his players after Monday night's 114-90 loss
to the undefeated Philadelphia 76ers. It was Boston's second straight defeat
and sixth in eight games.

Pitino won the national championship with Kentucky in 1996 and led the
school to the title game in 1997 before signing a 10-year contract to become
Boston's coach and president.

However, his second stint as an NBA coach has been a disappointment as the
Celtics are 94-130 and have no playoff appearances in his three-plus
seasons.

If Pitino leaves after the season, the Globe reports he will forgo $30
million in salary. Before the season, he stated he would "fire" himself if
Boston did not make the playoffs.

Earlier this month, the Sporting News reported that Pitino was setting the
stage for a takeover of the Indiana University program after Bobby Knight
was fired.

Pitino is 352-124 with three Final Four appearances at three collegiate
stops and just 182-204 in the NBA. He went 90-74 with the New York Knicks
from 1987-88 to 1988-89.