It's one and done at FIU for head basketball coach Richard Pitino. According to ESPN, Pitino has been hired to fill the vacancy at the University of Minnesota after just one season as the Golden Panthers' top dog.
See also:
- FIU Might Redesign Their Basketball Court to Look Like a Cheesy Beach Towel
Pitino, the son of legendary Louisville coach Rick Pitino, was hired last year to replace Isiah Thomas. In his first year he racked up an 18-14 record, the team's first winning record in 13 years. The team even made it to the Sun Belt finals, but ultimately missed out on their chance at an automatic NCAA birth to Western Kentucky.
Apparently, though, that was enough to get bigger school to notice him, plus as USA Today notes, Minnesota Athletics Director Norwood Teague likes to hired young coaches on the rise. While serving in the same job at VCU he hired Shaka Smith out of obscurity to be the school's basketball coach. He ended up taking the team to the Final Four in 2011.
Minnesota had reportedly also had their eyes on FGCU coach Andy Enfield, but he was scooped up by USC yesterday.
Sadly, Pitino will not get to see those crazy court designs he liked so much come to fruition at FIU.
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