Rick Pitino has landed another job as the head coach of a basketball team, and it is a very prominent one.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Pitino is in the process of finalizing a deal to become the head coach of Greek professional team Panathinaikos.
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
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
Panathinaikos is the most storied and successful basketball team in Greece. They have won six EuroLeague championships and 36 Greek Basket League championships. In terms of head coaching jobs in Europe, there are few bigger ones.
As Wojnarowski notes, Pitino’s goal is still to coach again in the NBA. He recently said he misses coaching terribly and believes he could be an asset to an NBA franchise with the way the league is getting younger and placing an emphasis on player development.
Pitino, 66, said back in October that he is done coaching and doesn’t want the stress anymore, but he either just meant at the collegiate level or changed his mind. The Hall of Fame coach was pushed out at Louisville amid allegations of paying a recruit, and the program also had to vacate its 2013 national championship due to a sex scandal.
