Former Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino says that he’d “100 percent” return to Louisville, despite previously vowing to stay away unless two high-standing officials within the University are gone.
Pitino spoke to CBS Sports Network in his first television conversation since returning from a championship coaching season in Greece. The first part of the interview aired Tuesday on the network, more of the chat will air on Aug. 23 at 9:30 p.m.
“One hundred percent,” Pitino answered, after being asked if he’d return to the city of Louisville. “I love the University of Louisville. I love the University of Kentucky. I love the people of Kentucky. I’m not going to let 5-7, 10 people spoil my feelings for a place I spent 17 years. The one thing you learn when you’re 66 is put it behind you and get over yourself.”
The Naismith Hall of Fame coach said in April 2018 that he would not even attend a race at Churchill Downs in which a horse he co-owns was racing until former University of Louisville Board of Trustees Chairman David Grissom nor vice-chairman “Papa John” Schnatter was gone. The University removed Papa Johns from its branding and Papa John stepped down from the board and from the Athletic Association later in 2018. Grissom stepped down as chairman last month but remains on the University of Louisville Board of Trustees.
Pitino explained in the interview that his decision to return to the United States from coaching overseas was based on needing to spend time with his family. Pitino’s one-year-old grandson “has a form of epilepsy,” and Pitino plans to spend the next six months with his son, grandson, and daughter-in-law.
