Richard Pitino Jr is the next head coach.

[XUGRAD80]

I have a good friend that is a New Mexico grad. I contacted him to get his opinion on Pitino. He is very high on him and thinks X got a good one. But he feels that it’s not necessarily a good career move for him. He’s afraid that he will get lost in the shuffle of other great coaches in the BE and other eastern centric leagues. At NW he was the toast of the state. I don’t agree, but I can see where he might think that.

I asked him about Dent. He thinks that Dent will end up at Texas Tech with his good friend Toppin, who transferred from NM to TT after last season. However, he does thank that if he doesn’t go to TT he will follow Pitino to X.

[American X]

Full circle for X.. Pitino fired from Lville in 2018, Mack leaves X at our height for Lville. Steele era, back to Miller, Pitino to SJU playing X twice a year. Miller bolts, X hires a Pitino. Like it or not X has been intertwined with Pitinos for years! The webs we weave!

[Xavier]

I have a good friend that is a New Mexico grad. I contacted him to get his opinion on Pitino. He is very high on him and thinks X got a good one. But he feels that it’s not necessarily a good career move for him. He’s afraid that he will get lost in the shuffle of other great coaches in the BE and other eastern centric leagues. At NW he was the toast of the state. I don’t agree, but I can see where he might think that.

I asked him about Dent. He thinks that Dent will end up at Texas Tech with his good friend Toppin, who transferred from NM to TT after last season. However, he does thank that if he doesn’t go to TT he will follow Pitino to X.

That’s a classic thing to say. It’s what you’d argue about the first time Miller left. Fact is, NM was about to really get lost in shuffle as Mountain west is about to get split due to PAC 12. Richard had to leave while he could.

[waggy]

[waggy]

There was a comment made in that interview regarding Pitino and the media. Wasn't exactly clear, but given the press conference is closed to the public, I'm guessing Pitino isn't a big fan of media engagement.

[Xville]

There was a comment made in that interview regarding Pitino and the media. Wasn't exactly clear, but given the press conference is closed to the public, I'm guessing Pitino isn't a big fan of media engagement.

I don't understand this comment. Just because it's closed to the public, doesn't mean its closed to the media.

For those who don't know, Richard is very very different from his father. He's mild-mannered, has a very dry sense of humor, and is a big family man.

I think he's going to be engaged in the community, and is very likeable, but he's certainly not going to be the fiery scream at the ref type like his dad. Think more Greg McDermott than Dan Hurley.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I don't understand this comment. Just because it's closed to the public, doesn't mean its closed to the media.

For those who don't know, Richard is very very different from his father. He's mild-mannered, has a very dry sense of humor, and is a big family man.

I think he's going to be engaged in the community, and is very likeable, but he's certainly not going to be the fiery scream at the ref type like his dad. Think more Greg McDermott than Dan Hurley.

Yeah there is a press conference after, the media will certainly be there.

You have to wonder if X potentially has some concerns about the fan base clamoring for Mack and some there not giving Pitino a great reception if it was open to the public? Just a guess. Only difference I can think of for Miller and Pitino hirings.

[waggy]

[drudy23]

Lots of good nuggets in this video. A couple things that stick out to me from this video:

1) Dent probably won't get the $2.5-3M he's looking for - sounds like it may be tough to get him to X, but maybe if Dent finds out his market isn't that high in reality
2) The New York/East Coast personality - no fluff, no frill, straight to the point. He keeps it simple and just tells it like it is - love the no-nonsense, no-spin way of communicating - seems very authentic this way
3) Damn - so many mannerisms and voice that remind you of dad Rick
4) Excited to see how this progresses - he's way different than what we're used to, but I'm eager to watch a new path

[BandAid]

My brother would text me updates the entire time the process was going down. After each update I replied "not surprised." Miller is going to Texas: "not surprised." X is looking at Mack: "not surprised". Swain is in the portal: "not surprised." Pitino is the hire: "Oh, that's different!"

I would've been perfectly comfortable with Mack being the hire, but I'm excited the program is branching out from its coaching tree. Big risk, big reward situation. At the very least, it'll be fun to watch a new defensive coaching philosophy. And I am probably more interested in following how the team progresses in construction and development.

Most of all, I'm grateful the new hire happened quickly, and I'm grateful the entire coaching staff got filled quickly, too.

Into the unknown!