LOUISVILLE, Ky. — University of Louisville fans were talking after ex-men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino appeared at University of Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness Friday night.
Seven years have passed since a stripper scandal upended the UofL men’s basketball program.
Pitino was later dismissed by the university after an FBI investigation into college basketball corruption led to allegations of NCAA violations. It was the third scandal, professional and personal, in an eight-year period with Louisville – but Pitino was exonerated in the FBI-related case.
Everything associated with the scandals and the university has been left in Pitino’s rear view and he's now moved on with his life. He's still doing what he loves and serving as the head coach of St. John’s University in New York.
Pitino returned to familiar territory over the weekend, supporting his former player Mark Pope who is now leading the Wildcats as its new head coach.
When Pitino made his surprise appearance at Rupp Arena, fans wildly cheered and gave him a standing ovation. He told the crowd he was “happy to be back.”
It wouldn’t be the only appearance for the 71-year-old. Pitino traveled to Kroger Field on Saturday to watch UK football take on Vanderbilt.
WHAS11’s weekend sports anchor Mason Horodyski caught up with Pitino to ask him about his visits and his feelings toward Louisville.
“I love my players, and I love the fans of Louisville. I’ve never been invited back to Louisville,” he said. “They fired me – quite abruptly – not very nicely, but I offer nothing against the fans and certainly nothing against my players. I love them dearly, I love the fans dearly, but I’ve never been invited back one time.”
Pitino explained he was in Lexington after being invited by coach Mark Stoops and Pope, but said it had nothing to do with the Louisville-UK rivalry.
“This is about people inviting me back to Camelot where I coached,” he said. “This is my captain of one of the greatest teams I’ve ever assembled.”
Pitino guided UK to a 1996 championship where Pope served as captain and later became a second-round pick in the NBA Draft.
Would there be an invite back to Louisville someday? Pitino doesn’t seem to think so.
“I don’t think it’s gonna happen. It’s sort of like Bob Knight and Indiana – I’ll always treasure my players, [and] I’ll always treasure the fans. All I wanted was an apology and they never gave me that apology – just sorry for the way we did you in.”
Since UofL has a new administration, Pitino said he wishes them nothing but the best.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, or visit our Facebook page or X feed.