Rick Pitino’s Love for Kentucky Sports and Fans
Legendary basketball coach Rick Pitino reflects on his time at Kentucky and shows continued support for the Wildcats in a recent interview. Despite leaving the program over 25 years ago, Pitino still holds a deep affection for the school and its sports teams.
During a recent appearance on KSR, Pitino discussed his time at Kentucky and the decision to take the head coaching job at Louisville, a move that caused some tension with Wildcats fans. Reflecting on his time at Kentucky, Pitino expressed gratitude towards the fans and acknowledged their bitterness towards his move to Louisville.
Pitino coached at Kentucky from 1989 to 1997, leading the team to a national championship and three Final Four appearances. After a brief stint in the NBA, he returned to coach at Louisville, where he also found success, including another national championship.
Despite the past tensions, Pitino has shown unwavering support for Kentucky sports, even donating to the football program’s NIL initiative. He has praised the hiring of Mark Pope as the new head coach and expressed a desire to schedule games against each other in the future.
Now the head coach at St. John’s, Pitino continues to root for Kentucky sports and has shown his support for various programs within the university. With a deep love for the Wildcats and a desire to see them succeed, Pitino remains a dedicated supporter of Kentucky athletics.