EP 7 - RICHARD PITINO

Richard Pitino enters his fourth season as head coach of the New Mexico Lobos, having guided the program to its first Mountain West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade during the 2023-24 season. Since taking over in 2021, Pitino has led a remarkable turnaround, improving the Lobos from a No. 303 NET ranking to 26 wins, a Mountain West title, and a top-25 AP ranking last season.    With over 200 career wins, Pitino has established himself as one of college basketball’s top young coaches. Before coming to New Mexico, he spent eight seasons at Minnesota, where he led the Golden Gophers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT Championship. Pitino also has extensive experience as an assistant coach, highlighted by multiple deep NCAA Tournament runs, including a Final Four and two Elite Eight appearances at Louisville while working alongside his Hall of Fame father, Rick Pitino.   In addition to his success on the court, Pitino has revitalized fan support for the Lobos, with New Mexico ranking among the top programs nationally in attendance.    Originally from Boston, Pitino holds a degree in history from Providence College. He and his wife, Jill, have three children: Ava, Zoe, and Jack.