Xavier hires Richard Pitino as head coach

Xavier is hiring New Mexico bench boss Richard Pitino as its next head coach, the school announced Tuesday.

He is expected to sign a six-year deal, according to the Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.

“Xavier is one of the great brands in all of college basketball,” Pitino said. “It has always been a dream of mine to coach in the Big East. The Cintas Center is going to be rocking. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Pitino will replace Sean Miller, who left the Musketeers earlier this week to take over at Texas.

Xavier went to two NCAA Tournaments during Miller’s three-year stint. The Musketeers finished fourth in the Big East this season with a 13-7 conference record and a 22-12 record overall.

Pitino led the Lobos to the 2024-25 Mountain West regular-season title and back-to-back NCAA Tournaments following a 10-year tourney drought for the program. New Mexico upset Marquette in its first-round game Friday but fell to Michigan State in the Round of 32.

Pitino went 88-49 in his four seasons at New Mexico.

The 42-year-old previously coached at Minnesota and Florida International. He led the Golden Gophers to two March Madness appearances.

Richard is now set to play twice a year against his father, legendary coach Rick Pitino, who’s in charge of Xavier’s Big East rival St. John’s. The pair became the first father-son duo to win their respective conferences’ Coach of the Year awards in the same season.

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