Rick Pitino

On April 8, 2013, Rick was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was part of a class of seven which included the NBA's Bernard King and Gary Payton, former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian, North Carolina women's coach Sylvia Hatchell, former University of Houston coach Guy Lewis and former University of Virginia star Dawn Staley.

On April 8, 2013, Louisville defeated Michigan 82-76 to make Rick the first man to win a national championship at two different schools. He also won a championship at the University of Kentucky in 1996.

(in a staff memo on Rick Pitino's affair and subsequent litigation)
University of Louisville President James Ramsey: I considered a wide range of options in dealing with Coach Pitino's errors in judgment and their impact on our university. In the end, I told Coach Pitino that he needed to publicly apologize to the university community for his actions. He has done that.

(on Rick Pitino's affair and subsequent litigation)
University of Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich: Coach Pitino has been truthful with us about this matter all along and we stand by him and his family during this process.

In a seedy story that broke in August 2009, Rick admitted to police that he had committed adultery with Karen Sypher in a Louisville restaurant in August 2003. He also admitted giving Sypher $3,000 two weeks later for what he thought was health insurance. She claims it was for an abortion.

Shortly after the incident Karen married Tim Sypher, Rick's personal assistant with the NBA's Boston Celtics from 1997-2001. Tim followed Rick to Louisville in 2001.

During the process, Karen was indicted for extortion when she was accused of attempting to extort $10 million from Rick. In August 2010, she was convicted by a jury of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. In February 2011, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III sentenced her to 87 months in prison and two years of supervised release after she serves her prison term.

During his tenure at the University of Kentucky (1989-1997), Rick was named the Southeastern Conference's Coach of the Year three times (1990, 1991, 1996).

In 1987, Rick won the National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year award in recognition of his work in leading the Providence Friars to the Final Four.

In 2008, Rick published Rebound Rules: The Art of Success 2.0.

Rick published his autobiography entitled Born to Coach in in 1988.

Rick attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) graduating in 1974. While at UMass, he was a guard on the basketball team and wore number 22. He led the team in assists during his junior (129, 4.8/game) and senior (168, 6.5/game) years.

Rick's coached with the Providence Friars for two seasons (1985-87). He posted an overall record of 42-23 (.646) and guided the Friars to the NIT in 1986 and the NCAA Tournament's Final Four in 1987.

Rick's first head coaching job came at age 25 with the Boston University Terriers, whom he coached for five seasons (1978-1983). He posted an overall record of 91-51 (.641) and guided the Terriers to the NIT in 1980 and the NCAA Tournament in 1983.

Rick coached the NBA's New York Knicks from 1987-1989, compiling a record of 90-74 (.579). His teams finished second and first respectively and made the playoffs in both seasons.

Rick attended St. Dominic High School basketball team in Oyster Bay, Long Island, where he was captain of the basketball team.

Rick coached the NBA's Boston Celtics from 1997-2001, compiling a record of 102-146 (.436). His teams never finished higher than fifth in their division and missed the playoffs each year.

In 2000, Rick published Lead to Succeed: 10 Traits of Great Leadership in Business and Life.

In 1997, Rick published Success Is a Choice: Ten Steps to Overachieving in Business and Life.

Rick served as a studio analyst and color commentator for CBS' coverage of the 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

Rick coached the University of Kentucky Wildcats from 1989 to 1997 during which time he compiled a record of 219-50 (.814) and led the Wildcats to the NCAA Championship in 1996.

Rick and his wife Joanne's son Daniel died of congenital heart failure in 1987 at the age of six months. In his memory, Rick and Joanne established the Daniel Pitino Foundation, which raises money for children in need.

Rick has been married to Joanne Minardi since 1976. The couple have five living children.