The Xavier Musketeers got their new head basketball coach Tuesday night by hiring New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino to lead the program, according to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein.
Pitino, the son of legendary coach Rick Pitino, spent the past four seasons at New Mexico after eight years at Minnesota and one season at FIU.
While at New Mexico, Pitino led the Lobos to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments the past two seasons. He knocked out Marquette from the Big East this year to reach the round of 32.
Here are five things to know about Richard Pitino:
Richard Pitino began his college coaching career as a student manager
Richard Pitino went to college at Providence, and while he was there he got his first taste of the college game (besides time spent with his father) where he worked as the student manager of the Providence Friars' basketball team under coach Tim Welsh.
Richard Pitino coached alongside his dad before becoming a head coach
Richard was an assistant coach for two stints when his dad was the head coach at Louisville – from 2007-2009 and again in the 2011-12 season.
In between stints at Louisville he was an assistant for one of his father's former players, coaching along with Billy Donovan at Florida from 2009-11.
Richard Pitino got his first head coaching job at age 29, replacing an NBA legend
Richard Pitino was named the head coach at FIU in April of 2012, replacing Hall-of-Fame point guard Isiah Thomas.
Pitino went 18-14 in his only season at FIU, guiding the Panthers to the program's first winning season since 1999-2000.
Richard Pitino replaced Tubby Smith as the head coach at Minnesota
Tubby Smith was relieved of his coaching duties at Minnesota in March of 2013 and the Golden Gophers turned to Richard Pitino to lead their program.
Smith was an assistant coach under Rick Pitino at Kentucky from 1989-91.
While at Minnesota, Pitino amassed a 141-123 record and made two NCAA Tournament appearances. The Golden Gophers also won the NIT in Pitino's first season.
Richard Pitino turned around a struggling New Mexico program
Richard Pitino's first season at New Mexico was a struggle, going 13-19 in 2021-22, but he led the Lobos to a 22-12 record the next year, the program's first 20-win season since 2013-14.
The win over Marquette in this year's NCAA Tournament was the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 2012.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier hires Richard Pitino: Five facts about new basketball coach
