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Former Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats head coach Rick Pitino is back to coaching basketball again.
That’s right, you read that correctly. After saying that he would be stepping away from coaching for good after being fired at Louisville last year, Pitino is back in the game, although not in the United States.
Pitino will be headed over to the Euro League to coach Panathinaikos of Greece, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
Naismith Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino is finalizing a deal to become head coach of EuroLeague power Panathinkaikos of Greece, sources told ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2018
Pitino will be coaching his first game after Christmas and coach them for the rest of the season.
A formal agreement is expected soon, sources told ESPN. Pitino is expected to travel to Athens and coach his first game shortly after Christmas. Pitino's goal has remained to return to the NBA, and this deal's term will be for the rest of the season. https://t.co/vkxwsMK9tS
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2018
It was only a matter of time before Rick got back in to the business, and his goal is to get back in to the NBA. Whether or not this coaching job leads to anything, only time will tell. But for now, Rick Pitino will have his 15 seconds of fame in Greece.
Go get em, Rick.
Also...
Smart. Its hard to leave another program in ruins if they’re already surrounded by them.
— C to the J (@cjuk33) December 20, 2018
That’s a winning tweet right there.