Jeff Goodman: College Basketball Coaches on the Hot Seat Heading Into the 2020-21 Season (Richard Pitino, Minnesota)

BleedGopher

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per Goodman:

Richard Pitino, Minnesota
Overall Record: 127-108 (7 seasons)
Contract Situation: Signed a two-year extension in 2019 through 2024

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Pitino and the Gophers over the last four years. After going to the NCAA tourney in 2017, Minnesota was 15-17 and 4-14 in league play in 2018. Then they went to the tourney again in 2019 before a 15-16 campaign and an 8-12 mark in Big Ten play this past season. Pitino has finished in the top six in the Big Ten just once in his seven seasons in the league. His buyout is $1.75 million.


Go Gophers!!
 

Wald chimes in:

Many thought Pitino’s job might be in jeopardy after last season. The Gophers finished 15-16, including 8-12 in the Big Ten. They were 2-10 away from Williams Arena, and they had all kinds of trouble finishing close games.


Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and athletic departments across the country took financial hits. Many, including the Gophers, cut sports and had coaches take pay cuts to limit the damage.

The reality is Pitino does need to have a much-improved team in 2020. In seven seasons, he has a 127-108 overall record. Pitino has led the Gophers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and one victory, but Minnesota has finished in the top six in the Big Ten just once in his seven years.

Pitino is under contract through the 2024 season, and if Mark Coyle wants to move on, it will cost $1.75 million. It’s hard to justify spending that kind of money to fire a coach during a health pandemic.


Go Gophers!!
 

Wald chimes in:

Many thought Pitino’s job might be in jeopardy after last season. The Gophers finished 15-16, including 8-12 in the Big Ten. They were 2-10 away from Williams Arena, and they had all kinds of trouble finishing close games.


Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and athletic departments across the country took financial hits. Many, including the Gophers, cut sports and had coaches take pay cuts to limit the damage.

The reality is Pitino does need to have a much-improved team in 2020. In seven seasons, he has a 127-108 overall record. Pitino has led the Gophers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and one victory, but Minnesota has finished in the top six in the Big Ten just once in his seven years.

Pitino is under contract through the 2024 season, and if Mark Coyle wants to move on, it will cost $1.75 million. It’s hard to justify spending that kind of money to fire a coach during a health pandemic.


Go Gophers!!
This is the most reasonable comment on this matter that has been published so far. The temperature dial in most situations has been turned way down, under current financial situations there is going to be no appetite to pay someone not to coach nor should there be.
 

This is the most reasonable comment on this matter that has been published so far. The temperature dial in most situations has been turned way down, under current financial situations there is going to be no appetite to pay someone not to coach nor should there be.
Due to Covid I think unless we are awful he gets one more year

which is another reason I don’t even think Coyle even thought about firing him last spring
 

I have it on good authority that he has already been fired and they just have decided to conceal that fact by having him continue to coach.
 





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