Rick Pitino (born September 18, 1952 in New York City) is a basketball coach with experience in NBA and NCAA basketball leagues. He is currently head coach at University of Louisville but is also known for his coaching career at Boston University, Providence College, the University of Kentucky, the New York Knicks, and the Boston Celtics.

He made the Final Four with Providence in 1987; the point guard on that team, Billy Donovan, is now a prominent college coach. In 1989, he left for Kentucky, which was then reeling from a major recruiting scandal. In 1992, he brought the Wildcats to the brink of the Final Four, losing to Duke in a double-overtime classic often regarded as the greatest college game ever. He made the Final Four with Kentucky the following year, won a national title with UK in 1996, and lost to Arizona in overtime in the NCAA finals in 1997.

He is the author of a motivational self-help book (and audio recording) named Success is a Choice.

External links

Rick Pitino's bio at Official Collegiate Sports Network