Rick Pitino Has Reportedly Been Offered A Head Coaching Job
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals reacts to a play against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on February 13, 2017 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
Rick Pitino wants to coach again. Is he willing to go across the planet to do so?
We'll find out soon. According to a report by Marc Stein, Pitino has been offered a head coaching job.
It isn't in the college ranks. Or the NBA.
It isn't in one of the more highly regarded international leagues, like the one in Spain, either. Per Stein's report, Rick Pitino's been offered by the New Zealand Breakers.
https://twitter.com/thesteinline/status/979765303264473089?s=21
The Breakers are based in Auckland. As Stein notes, they play in the Australian National Basketball League.
Earlier this year, an American group featuring some former NBA players took ownership of the team. That group is headed by former Florida Gators and Miami Heat player Matt Walsh.
The biggest NBA name in the ownership group is four-time All-Star Shawn Marion. The group also features Dan "Big Cat" Katz, co-host of Barstool Sports' popular podcast "Pardon My Take."
This is not the first job that Rick Pitino has been connected to this off-season.
There has been speculation about a return to the NBA in some capacity. He was also reportedly "mentioned" for the Georgia opening, that eventually went to Tom Crean.
If he really wants to jump back into coaching, this is an opportunity, and one that probably won't be impacted by whatever goes down with the NCAA's eventual response to the FBI investigation that roped in Pitino. However, it seems very unlikely that he will be taking this job.
