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After being fired at Louisville and coaching in Greece, then making his improbable return at Iona in the tumult of a pandemic, the legendary and scandal-scarred coach has a re-energized program primed for another NCAA Tournament run in Year 2 and is daring to talk Final Four.
Quinn Slazinski was among the first to sign, joining Louisville’s first post-Pitino recruiting class. The Texas native could envision the Cardinals without their longtime coach, winning championships without the Hall of Famer, selling out each of their arena’s 22,000 seats without the man who returned a dormant power to prominence.
Slazinski wasn’t recruited by Rick Pitino. He’d never met him. But the young forward quickly became acquainted with the legend.
“In Louisville, you hear Rick Pitino’s name more than anything else,” Slazinski said. “Fans, players, everyone loves him.”
The tales were entertaining, but of little importance. It seemed as likely that Slazinski would cross paths with Bill Belichick on a college basketball court. Then, Pitino returned from Greece, and arrived at Iona, ending a three-year exile, sparked by scandals at Louisville. Playing for an ACC power, Slazinski found himself watching the MAAC, feeling close to the coach afar.
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