Rick Pitino Does Not Plan to Coach at Louisville Beyond 2017, Gets Reflective in News Conference

by abournenesn

Dec 28, 2011

Rick Pitino is not walking through that door once his contract at Louisville ends in 2017.

The former Celtics coach does not plan to coach beyond the 2016-17 season, which is the last year of his contract with the Cardinals. The 59-year-old coach spoke repeatedly of his age during a news conference on Tuesday.

“When you’re 59, you’re realistic that you don’t have a whole lot of years left,” Pitino said, according to The Associated Press. “My contract’s going to run out in 2017. I’m not coaching any more after that.”

Pitino has been touched by tragedy, having lost a 6-month-old son to congenital heart failure in 1987, but his tone Tuesday seemed weird, almost melodramatic. Many healthy, active people older than 59 aren’t pondering retirement, and UConn coach Jim Calhoun, 69, is still soldiering on despite dealing with prostate cancer and other health problems.

But Pitino sounded like a man pondering his fate, not someone 16 years younger than the normal life expectancy of an American male.

“One thing I’ve learned to do with my age, I really don’t look ahead,” Pitino said. “For years, I’ve been preaching the precious present and having to always subscribe to it.”

Hopefully, there is nothing serious that would cause Pitino to go all Bucket List on us, but we wish him and his family good health no matter the circumstances. Pitino clearly hasn’t forgotten how to coach, having guided Louisville to a 12-0 record and No. 4 ranking thus far this season.

Photo of the day

Pitino is hanging ’em up… in six years.

Rick Pitino Does Not Plan to Coach at Louisville Beyond 2017, Gets Reflective in News Conference

Quote of the day

“I told them, ‘You’re playing against Deion Sanders.’ That’s what LeBron and Wade are. They are going to get every crosscourt pass. Even if it looks like the guy is open, they are going to get it, so don’t give them that opportunity.”
— Celtics coach Doc Rivers after Boston committed 24 turnovers Tuesday against the Heat

Tweet of the day

Uh oh. Commence angry backlash.

Rick Pitino Does Not Plan to Coach at Louisville Beyond 2017, Gets Reflective in News Conference

Video of the day

Impressive. The most beer I’ve ever been able to smuggle out between by thighs is a six-pack.

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