Rick Pitino Rumors: Coach Addresses UNLV Chatter

Former Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino is fresh off of leading Greece club Panathinaikos to the Greek Cup Championship. Now, he has found himself in the rumor mill regarding a current NCAA Division I job; the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels.
Current UNLV coach Marvin Menzies holds a 46-45 overall record and has yet to lead the Runnin’ Rebels to the NCAA Tournament in his three years. That has led to the discussion that Menzies could be on the outs and, of course, with a high-profile coach like Pitino available he has been linked to the potential vacancy.
However, don’t count on it.
Menzies coached under Pitino at Lousiville from 2005-2007 and the two maintain a very close relationship. Because of that, Pitino said he would never take the Runnin’ Rebels job.
“I root for UNLV every game,” Pitino said, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I have been a big fan since the Tark days. But now I root for them every game because of Marvin Menzies, a younger brother to me. I, nor my agent, haven’t had any discussions with UNLV about coaching there. I will continue to root for my ex-assistant coach every game. Go, Marvin.”
Ultimately, you have to think a Division I program will bite the bullet and go after Pitino to be their next head coach. But don’t expect him to jump at any offer from UNLV. And if no top programs want to show interest, perhaps he can keep racking up titles in Greece with Panathinaikos.

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