Did Dick Vitale Say Rick Pitino Would Be ‘A Great Hire’ For Another School?

ESPN’s Dick Vitale is a big Rick Pintino supporter, always has been. Even recently defending his friend saying that the Louisville board has rushed to judgment in firing the coach before the entire FBI investigation dives deep. So I guess it's not a surprise he's still trying to immediately get him a new job. Per TheSpun...

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Q: Will Rick Pitino coach again?

A: I agree with Geno Auriemma, who said (he) would hire him in a minute. The guy isn’t on probation anywhere he’s ever been. If there was someone looking to make a big hit, I think he would be a great hire. I really do. … He’s made mistakes, no doubt about it. I’ve made mistakes. I am sure you’ve made mistakes. I don’t know how hungry he would be. I know he misses this team because he had told me before any of this happened that this could be the best team he’s had.

Vitale refers to Geno Auriemma’s answer to a similar question on a recent episode of Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take podcast. From ESPN‘s write-up on the interview:

“If I had a job opening? Yes,” Auriemma said Wednesday on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take podcast, when asked whether he’d hire Pitino if the Hall of Famer called and asked to be an assistant coach under him for a year.

In a follow-up question, Auriemma was asked about concern over the baggage Pitino would bring.

“Well, I mean, everybody’s got baggage,” Auriemma said. “You know, what are you going to do? You know, he did his time. He’s serving his sentence. He lost a great, great job. And you know what? So what. That’s a life sentence? I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

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(New York Post)