Richard Pitino responds to question about future as Minnesota head coach
The last month has been rough for Minnesota and head coach Richard Pitino. After losing eight of their last nine games, the Golden Gophers played their way out of the NCAA tournament and there might be a change at the top.
Minnesota’s season came to an end Thursday, falling 79-75 to Ohio State in Round 2 of the B1G Tournament. The Gophers finish the season with a 14-15 record, a disappointing final month for a team that was 13-7 in mid-February.
After another rough year, there’s serious questions about whether or not Pitino will return to the Twin Cities for the 2021-22 season. And when asked about his fate, the head coach had an honest response.
“I do have a great relationship with [athletic director] Mark [Coyle],” Pitino said, per Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press. “If he gives me some bad news, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to flip a desk or anything. Life goes on. I respect authority.”
#Gophers men's basketball coach Richard Pitino remains candid on his precarious future at the U:
"I do have a great relationship with (AD) Mark (Coyle). If he gives me some bad news, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to flip a desk or anything. Life goes on. I respect authority."
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) March 11, 2021
Here’s more of what Pitino said during his postgame presser:
"I don't know what the future holds. . . . Life will go on, regardless, and we'll all be OK."
Richard Pitino was asked about what's next following Minnesota's #B1GTourney loss to Ohio State.
Watch his full response below. pic.twitter.com/dZ9slt6vU8
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 11, 2021
Pitino is 141-123 in eight seasons as the head coach at Minnesota. However, the really rough part of his time with the Golden Gophers is his mark in B1G play, which is just 54-96. He’s led the Gophers to just two NCAA Tournament appearances, with the last coming during the 2018-19 season.
This marks the second-straight year Minnesota has finished the season under .500, going 15-16 last year.