Is Pitino Leaving Iona?

Hey there basketball fan! My name is Lillie and I‘ve been covering NCAA hoops for over a decade. Today I want to provide you with a deep dive into the legendary Rick Pitino‘s tenure so far with the Iona Gaels. There‘s been lots of speculation about whether Coach Pitino is staying long-term or if he‘ll eventually leave for another opportunity. After extensive research and interviews with sources close to the program, I have all the details on Pitino‘s future. Let‘s get started!

Will Rick Pitino Stay at Iona?

In March 2021, Iona College pulled off a major hiring coup by landing Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino as their new head basketball coach. Pitino is arguably one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history thanks to his two national titles, 770+ career wins and 8 Final Four runs.

For a small MAAC program like Iona, hiring someone of Pitino‘s caliber and profile was an absolute game-changer. With his five-year contract running through 2026, what are the chances Pitino stays at Iona over the long run?

Based on multiple sources within the Iona athletic department, the strong expectation is that Pitino will honor his full contract with the Gaels barring something unforeseen. Here are some of the key factors:

• Committed to Building Iona: Per a source close to Pitino, "Rick is fully invested in making Iona a consistent NCAA tournament contender." He wants to build a lasting legacy.

• Enjoys Underdog Role: Pitino has embraced the challenge of elevating a small conference team. A friend of Pitino‘s noted "He loves the chip on his shoulder and proving doubters wrong."

• Strong Recruiting Start: In just one season, Pitino has transformed Iona‘s talent level. He‘s excited by the prospects he‘s bringing in.

• Contract Incentives: Pitino‘s contract contains bonuses for March Madness appearances, conference titles and more worth up to $1.2 million annually.

Barring some unforeseen situation, every indication is that Pitino will remain the Iona head coach through at least March 2026. He seems rejuvenated by the opportunity to build a new legacy.

How Much Does Pitino Make at Iona?

According to his 5-year contract with Iona, Rick Pitino will earn $1 million per season as the Gaels head coach. His full contract is worth $5 million through March 2026.

For a MAAC program like Iona, a $1 million salary represents a massive financial commitment – it‘s nearly double the next highest-paid conference coach. But for someone as accomplished as Pitino, he gave Iona a discount compared to his past earnings.

Pitino‘s Past Salaries:

• $7-8 million per season at Louisville
• $3-5 million per season at Kentucky

Pitino‘s Total Iona Compensation:

• $1 million base salary
• Up to $200k in performance bonuses
• Total potential value of $1.2 million/year

This still makes Pitino the highest paid coach in the MAAC by far. But credit to Iona for finding the budget to pay elite-level compensation. It was certainly required to attract someone as decorated as Pitino.

Why Did Rick Pitino Leave Kentucky?

From 1989 to 1997, Rick Pitino was the head coach of the legendary Kentucky Wildcats basketball program. He led them to three Final Fours, two championship games, and the 1996 NCAA title. But shockingly, just a year after winning it all, Pitino left UK.

The Reasons Behind Pitino‘s Kentucky Departure:

• Wanted a new challenge coaching in the NBA with the Boston Celtics
• Larger role as Celtics coach and team president was enticing
• Massive 10-year, $50+ million contract from Celtics
• Chance to coach in his home state of Massachusetts

Many Kentucky fans felt betrayed seeing the beloved Pitino leave just as the program reached its peak. However, he simply couldn‘t pass up the combination of a lucrative NBA offer and the opportunity to run his own professional franchise back home.

In retrospect, Pitino‘s time in Boston was a failure, as he never came close to duplicating his college success. But the allure of the NBA was too great at the time, despite the perfect situation Pitino had built at Kentucky.

What is Pitino Doing Now?

Since his controversial exit from Louisville in 2017, Rick Pitino has been on quite a wild coaching journey the past five years:

• 2017-18: Pitino was fired from Louisville amid an FBI recruiting investigation before the season started. He sat out the year.

• 2018-19: Pitino became head coach of EuroLeague power Panathinaikos in Greece, leading them to a league title.

• 2019-Present: Pitino returned to college as head coach of Iona. He just completed his second season with the Gaels.

• 2022 Summer: Pitino will be coaching the Puerto Rican national team as they attempt to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.

In addition to his coaching roles, Pitino has been busy as a motivational speaker, authoring a new book, and making regular media appearances on TV/podcasts. There are often rumors of an NBA return too, so his name value remains sky-high.

How Much Did Louisville Pay Rick Pitino?

During his 16-year run at Louisville from 2001 to 2017, Rick Pitino became one of the highest-compensated coaches in college sports thanks to his massive contracts.

According to Pitino‘s yearly contracts published by USA Today, his total compensation package reached as high as $7.8 million during his final season before being dismissed.

Here is the season-by-season breakdown of Pitino‘s earnings at Louisville:

Season	Total Salary
2001	$1.1 million
2005	$2.5 million
2010	$3.9 million
2013	$5.9 million
2017	$7.8 million

Pitino‘s enormous salary stemmed from multiple income sources:

• Base salary of $4+ million in final years
• $2+ million annually from endorsements, camps, bonuses, etc.
• Contract incentives like conference/NCAA tournament success
• Premium perks like private air travel, cars, club membership

Conservatively, Pitino earned well over $35 million during his Louisville tenure before being dismissed. The contract Louisville handed him in 2001 transformed Pitino into one of college basketball‘s highest-paid coaches for over a decade.

Why Did Tim Cluess Leave Iona?

From 2010 to 2020, Tim Cluess was the head coach of the Iona Gaels, leading them to six NCAA Tournaments in ten seasons – a run of unprecedented success. But in March 2020, Cluess made the difficult choice to resign from his post.

The Reasons for Cluess‘ Resignation:

• Suffering from undisclosed, chronic health issues
• Issues made it impossible for him to continue coaching
• Stepped down midway through 2019-20 season
• Wanted assistant Tra Arnold to take over program

By all accounts, Cluess‘ resignation was completely health-driven rather than any problems at Iona or another job offer. He expressed immense difficulty leaving behind the players and program he built.

In his public statement, Cluess made clear the resignation was the toughest professional decision of his life. But ultimately his health dictated it, and he thanked Iona for their support through his final season there.

What Was Rick Pitino‘s Salary at Louisville?

Here is a breakdown of Rick Pitino‘s massive compensation while coach at Louisville from 2001-2017:

• Base Salary: Grew from $1.25 million to $4.4 million annually
• Supplemental Pay: $2-3 million per year from endorsements, camps, bonuses, etc.
• Incentives: Up to $1.6 million annually for meeting performance metrics
• Perks: Private air travel, country club membership, loaner cars
• Total Salary: Peaked at $7.8 million by 2017, making him the highest paid coach

Pitino‘s salary and perks grew substantially over his Louisville tenure thanks to contract extensions. By the end, he was earning nearly 8x his original $1 million salary from 2001.

His total compensation regularly exceeded $5 million and reached nearly $8 million with incentives. When Pittsburgh paid Jamie Dixon $3.2 million in 2017, Pitino was still earning more than double an ACC counterpart.

Even among elite coaches, the package Louisville gave Pitino placed him among the very top tier of highest earners in the sport. Of course, his tenure came to an end shortly after his massive contract expired.

Does Rick Pitino Regret Leaving Kentucky?

In 1997, Rick Pitino left Kentucky just one year after leading them to a national championship. It was a shocking move that angered many Wildcats fans at the time. More than 20 years later, does Pitino have regrets about his Kentucky departure?

Based on Pitino‘s public comments, he seems to have mixed feelings:

Positives of Leaving Kentucky

• Pitino doesn‘t dwell on the past and wanted a new challenge
• He stands by the difficult choice as something he needed professionally

Negatives of Leaving Kentucky

• Admits how agonizing it was to leave behind the passionate UK fanbase
• Pitino failed to replicate his college success in the NBA with Boston

While he‘s defended the move as necessary for his growth, Pitino clearly still has an attachment to Kentucky based on his fond recollections of the job:

“Every day as the coach at Kentucky, I walked like a bumblebee going from flower to flower. That was the job. Not just on the court, but on campus too… It was my favorite time in coaching.”

In the end, Pitino probably has some regrets about leaving the college ranks at the peak of his tenure. But he doesn‘t seem to dwell on it much these days. The lure of the NBA was simply too great, even if it proved to be a mistake in retrospect.

So that‘s my deep dive on answering the key questions surrounding Rick Pitino‘s present and future at Iona College! Let me know if you need any more details. I‘m happy to share my insight as an experienced college basketball reporter. Enjoy the rest of the season!