Richard Pitino Next New Mexico Coach
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
I suspect like Alford before him, Richard was plotting his escape route from Minnesota all season to try and stay one step ahead of the posse when it became clear UM would not make the post season again. Alford was simply a step quicker that Richard which allowed Minnesota the opportunity to fire him before he announced he was leaving UM for a better opportunity ***checks notes*** at a mid major.
New Mexico certainly has a knack for hiring "interesting" coaches
Alford thrived at New Mexico after leaving Iowa, wouldn't be surprised if Richard doesn't do well there also. Some coaches just have to seek out their level for success.
The guy was born on third base, so he's lead a charmed life. That said, I hear him on the radio in these parts quite often, and he seems like a pretty good dude to me, rivalry aside.
Again...regardless of what you think, the Lobo job is a very good job in the middle of no where. Certainly the equal of several B10 jobs in many respects....Lobo basketball is the only game in town and has a rich basketball history and one of the greatest basketball venues in the nation.
He posted this at 10 pm last night
and he'll have a chance to get some color in his face down there. Can't hurt.
I guess I'm in the minority here, but I always liked Junior. He was always very respectful of the Iowa program and didn't seem to take himself too seriously. Now his father....
Pitino actually did it better than Alford. He managed to have the gig lined up and got canned by Minnesota, so he got the big buyout from Minnesota, goes right into a new job. New Mexico was successful under Alford. Might work for Pitino there as well.
Good for him. Not that I can blame Minnesota and Indiana for firing their coaches for bad seasons, but the Big Ten was unusually strong this year and Covid throws a whole different wrinkle into the situation. In order to be successful in the Big Ten this year you basically need a top 10 team.
Well played. Kept his cards close to the vest, got the buyout and the new gig.
that’s outstanding work.
that’s outstanding work.
This is exactly right. He made himself $1,750,000 by getting fired instead of resigning, while he clearly had the New Mexico job lined up before getting canned.
College athletics is big business... you don't think this wasn't all known and worked out behind closed doors?
Minnesota just provided the Golden Parachute as negotiated by his agent... this is more the norm than the exception.
Alford didn't want to have Iowa air his dirt laundry so in exchange he left w/o his parachute.
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune
Pitino, who had three years left on his contract through 2023-24, was making a $2.46 million annual salary.
By firing Pitino, the Gophers owed him a $1.75 million buyout. But in his contract, it states that to collect Pitino's buyout, he must reduce the university's payment obligations "by trying to obtain comparable employment as soon as it's reasonably possible."
As for the New Mexico job, Coyle said, "I can't comment on other schools. But his contract is very clear that if we part ways, there's a $1.75 million buyout that's triggered. But there's other elements in that contract that can reduce that buyout based on if a coach finds different employment … As we go through the process it will look much different."
Pitino, who had three years left on his contract through 2023-24, was making a $2.46 million annual salary.
By firing Pitino, the Gophers owed him a $1.75 million buyout. But in his contract, it states that to collect Pitino's buyout, he must reduce the university's payment obligations "by trying to obtain comparable employment as soon as it's reasonably possible."
As for the New Mexico job, Coyle said, "I can't comment on other schools. But his contract is very clear that if we part ways, there's a $1.75 million buyout that's triggered. But there's other elements in that contract that can reduce that buyout based on if a coach finds different employment … As we go through the process it will look much different."
I don't harbor any ill will toward Junior. Wish him the best of luck in his new gig.
$1.75 mil is a pretty reasonable buyout. Even if reduced, it's still more than Alford collected when he bolted to the desert Southwest.
UNM is not a bad consolation prize. Ricky can (and probably should) do well there, as the MWC isn't the slaughterhouse the B1G is.
UNM is not a bad consolation prize. Ricky can (and probably should) do well there, as the MWC isn't the slaughterhouse the B1G is.
Douglas C. Neidermeyer
HB Legend
How long will he ply his trade until he gets the UCLA gig? 
Alford's questionable success was all due to Greg Lansing being his assistant coach. Greg was the coach of that team. Alford is horrible. How he rose from failure after failure is a great mystery.
Albuquerque should be a good fit for him. He looks like he could be cooking or distributing for Heisenberg.
Lived in Albuquerque for 4 years. Not only was it an engrossing series, but it was fun to look for the exterior shots of places that I recognized.
Yeah, everyone knew Greg was the brains behind the puppet, as far as Alford's continuing rise from each failure like a phoenix, his name brand has a lot to o with it, that and some universities just can't help themselves by closing a blind eye to his indiscretions in hopes of turning their sorry programs around.
Actually I was secretly hoping that Nevada would slip into this NCAA tournament as a 15 seed. Then the selection committee could have paired them with Iowa as a special interest game. Iowa then could have unloaded on his team completely hamulating him, that was my hope anyway, maybe next year!
THE HATE IS STRONG...
Last edited:
Huh. I always heard that Craig Neal was the real coach.
NOOOOOooooooooo .... is that another Pitino, Richard Pitino III, in that picture?
I thought so as well and think he was confusing Lansing with Neal. Lansing went to Indiana St and just got fired after 11 years as HC. But he left Iowa in 06' to become an assistant there. Neal did get lot of credit while at New Mexico as Alford's number 2 as he was for 3 years at Iowa. But even after Alford left he was only HC for 4 years at New Mexico killing that notion some. He made the tourney in his 1st year and 3 seasons around .500 after. Looks like he's back with Alford at Nevada.
I would agree..NM is the king of the poors as a state but my school time there was good times..but I schooled in Cruces..Basketball is king thereand UNM has a huge followingand phuquin’ crazy fans!
They sure do have some great fans, but unless you’re willing to drive in from Santa Fe everyday, the chances of you being shot by some freaked out meth head are pretty high.
See post #29...I have always been under the impression that Alford relied heavily upon Neal and his dad...
I've lived in Albuquerque for over 15 years and I've never had a gun pulled on me.
Similar threads
