Richard Pitino expected to be hired at Xavier

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There’s going to be another Pitino in the Big East.

According to multiple reports, Xavier basketball is expected to hire New Mexico coach Richard Pitino as the Musketeers’ next head coach. CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein was the first to report the news.

Richard Pitino, the son of St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, will replace Sean Miller in Cincinnati after Miller left Xavier for Texas on Sunday after three seasons with the Musketeers. Miller was formerly introduced at Texas on Tuesday.

According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Xavier and Richard Pitino remain in the negotiation stage of the process, but are expected to have a deal finalized soon.

Richard Pitino was a hot name in this year’s college basketball coaching carousel cycle, as his name was linked to multiple vacant coaching positions around the country. But in the end, Xavier and the Big East won out in the Richard Pitino sweepstakes.

The 42-year-old Pitino spent the last four years in the Mountain West at New Mexico, where he built the Lobos’ program into one of the top mid-majors in the country. The Lobos made their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under Richard Pitino this past season, losing to No. 2 seed Michigan State in the second round after upsetting No. 7 seed Marquette in the first round.

Xavier is coming off a 22-11 overall season under Miller this past year, which finished with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament and a First Four win against Texas.

“Basketball is an essential part of Xavier’s identity, and our program remains well-positioned to compete for Big East championships and NCAA Tournament success. We are fortunate to have an incredible fan base — loyal, generous, and passionate — with a strong program foundation in place,” Xavier athletic director Greg Christopher said in a statement after…

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Publish date : 2025-03-26 02:32:00

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