CINCINNATI — Richard Pitino was introduced on Tuesday as Xavier University's new head coach. He spoke Tuesday for the first time at the Cintas Center, emphasizing that he wanted to come to XU because it was a basketball school.
Pitino stressed the importance of "retention" of Xavier's existing players, but he also said that Xavier, and the Big East as a whole, were in a position of strength when it comes to NIL.
"I am so very grateful for this opportunity," Pitino said after he was introduced.
Richard Pitino is introduced as Xavier’s Head Basketball Coach. #Xavier @WCPO pic.twitter.com/o2DyA7w5Al
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) April 1, 2025
Pitino's hiring was first announced March 25 by college basketball insider Jon Rothstein. Xavier AD Greg Christopher confirmed the news, saying the school was "excited to welcome" the son of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
"Xavier is one of the great brands in all of college basketball … It has always been a dream of mine to coach in the BIG EAST," Pitino said in a statement. "The Cintas Center is going to be rocking. I can’t wait to get to work."
You can watch Pitino's entire introductory press conference in the video below:
Richard Pitino comes to Xavier from New Mexico, where he took the Lobos to the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons. Most recently, Pitino's squad finished first in the Mountain West, going 27-8 with an upset win over the Big East's Marquette in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Before his time in Albuquerque, Pitino spent eight seasons in Minnesota, where the Golden Gophers made two NCAA tournament appearances. He was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for 2016-17 for his squad's dramatic turnaround, going from 8-23 to 24-10. He was fired in 2021 after finishing the season below .500.
Joining the Big East means Pitino will get to play his father multiple times a season as the elder Pitino coaches the 2025 Big East champs, St. John's.
Big day at the Cintas Center.#Xavier @WCPO pic.twitter.com/qzRtG6gBcO
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) April 1, 2025
Xavier's former coach, Sean Miller, was introduced as the newest head coach for the Texas Longhorns. Miller took the job just days after the Muskies knocked Texas out of the NCAA tournament during the First Four in Dayton.
