It is going to be a household divided Sunday afternoon on the Backyard.
Behind the St. John’s bench will sit Rick Pitino’s daughter Jacqueline and son Ryan. On the different finish of the ground behind New Mexico’s bench can be Pitino’s spouse, Joanne, her sister and greatest pal, supporting Rick’s son Richard.
“[Joanne] told my son the other day, that Richard there’s no doubt who I’m rooting for, it’s you,” Rick stated. “You’re my blood and he’s not. It shows you how much she loves me and how much she loves Richard.”
It’s a enjoyable subplot to an attention-grabbing early season sport, as No. 22 St. John’s hosts undefeated New Mexico within the NYC Hoops for Heroes Basic. A portion of proceeds will go to the Tunnel to Towers Basis.
The elder Pitino has been speaking up New Mexico over the past week, saying St. John’s (3-0) must play nice to stay unbeaten. Richard has heard this earlier than. Rick all the time picks the primary main non-conference opponent to construct up. Just lately, Richard got here to city to attend a Yankees World Collection sport together with his father, a season-ticket holder. Upon arriving in New York Metropolis, Rick informed him to come back to St. John’s to satisfy him. The group was nonetheless working towards.
“I can tell all the players were looking at me, like we don’t like this guy, because all [Rick] does is hype up your team like the Boston Celtics,” Richard recalled with amusing. “I’m sure the players and the coaching staff are sick and tired of hearing about New Mexico.”
This can mark the fourth time the 2 have coached in opposition to each other. Rick gained the primary two conferences when he was nonetheless at Louisville (vs. Richard’s Florida Worldwide group in 2012 then Minnesota in 2014). Richard, 42, gained the third encounter in 2022 with New Mexico. After that sport, the household had dinner, and Rick, recognized to let losses eat at him, was gracious in defeat.
“We all went to Richard’s house afterwards. He was a great sport about it. He was actually very happy for him,” stated Chris Pitino, one among Rick’s 5 kids. “You can tell deep down he wasn’t on cloud nine. When he usually loses, you don’t say two words to him for a couple of days.”
The household nonetheless jokes concerning the second assembly, a one-sided victory for Rick. Richard whizzed proper previous him, giving him the outdated Jim Boeheim blow-by, Rick joked. The household has reminded Richard about that this week on the group chat.
Rick by no means wished any of his kids to observe him into teaching. It was too isolating. An excessive amount of time spent away from the household. Richard wasn’t planning to educate himself till Mike Hart requested him to assist out at St. Andrews College whereas he was attending Windfall Faculty.
Richard gave it a shot and has by no means regarded again. He acquired his begin on the Faculty of Charleston as an administrative assistant underneath Tom Herrion in 2004 and labored for his father at Louisville from 2007-09 and 2011-12 earlier than getting his first head-coaching job at FIU in 2012. Now, he’s in his fourth season at New Mexico following an eight-year stint at Minnesota, with an opportunity to steer the Lobos to back-to-back NCAA Match appearances for the primary time since 2013-14.
“I tried to discourage all of them, and most of them listened except Richard,” Rick stated, later including: “He’s had some really good jobs, but he’s done a great job. He’s left his mark at every place he’s been. He’s worked with me. He’s worked with Billy Donovan. He’s been a young head coach at FIU. And now he’s settled in [at New Mexico].”
The 2 are comparable of their dry sarcastic wit and love for teaching. Requested about the potential of dropping on Sunday, Richard stated he’s not involved, as a result of it’s not like he’s frightened about entering into the Corridor of Fame at some point. Rick chided his son for by no means thanking him for Nelly Junior Joseph, New Mexico’s beginning ahead who spent his first two years in school taking part in for the elder Pitino at Iona College. Rick didn’t recruit him to St. John’s as a result of he inherited Joel Soriano final yr.
“I’ve never thought about disowning a son. But it may come to that,” Rick joked.
The 2 are additionally very totally different, in accordance with Chris. Richard is extra of a participant’s coach, not as intense as Rick. He motivates in another way. He’s extra subdued in follow. He’s outgoing like his father, however shouldn’t be a yeller. Richard will get together with everybody, his brother stated.
“That’s one of the things I respect most about him is that he’s able to be successful while being completely different [from my father],” Chris stated.
Richard and Rick echoed each other when it got here to the precise sport. It’s vital for his or her groups, however due to the caliber of the opponent, not the opposite coach. As soon as the ball is tipped, it is going to be like one other sport. They gained’t be watching each other, they are going to be attempting to win. It’s not as if that is the primary time they are going to be teaching on reverse sidelines.
“People think this is a tough game — it’s actually not a tough game,” Rick stated. “If we lose, my team will be disappointed, but I’ll be very happy for my son. I hope St. John’s wins, but if we don’t, I’ll be a proud father.”
