Iona Hires Rick Pitino as Its New Coach

Pitino, a Hall of Famer, had been out of college basketball since 2017, when he was fired from Louisville amid a federal investigation. NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y. (AP) — The Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino was named the new leader of the men’s basketball program at Iona College on Saturday.

Pitino had coached at Louisville from 2001-17 before being fired in a pay-for-play scandal and had been coaching in Greece. He succeeds Tim Cluess, who resigned as Iona’s coach Friday because of health concerns. Cluess had six N. C.

A. A. Tournament appearances in his 10 seasons. “My passion in basketball started in New York and will end there at Iona College,” Pitino said in a statement released by Iona, a Catholic school in Westchester County with an undergraduate enrollment of about 3,300 students.

“Tim Cluess has done a spectacular job creating success and a winning spirit,” Pitino added. “At Iona, I will work with the same passion, hunger and drive that I’ve had for over 40 years. ” Pitino, 67, has a 770-271 record in college and became the first coach to take three different programs to the Final Four. He won national championships at Louisville (2013) and Kentucky (1996) and also went to the Final Four with Providence in 1987.

Pitino twice coached in the N. B. A.

“, with the New York Knicks (1987-89) and the Boston Celtics (1997-2001), where he was also team president.”

Last June, Pitino coached Panathinaikos to the championship in the Greek League. Pitino still planned to coach the Greek national team in the Olympic qualifying tournament scheduled for June, he told The New York Times in a text message. “I’m honoring all my commitments in Greece,” he said. Iona President Seamus Carey said, “after a thorough interview process we are confident that Rick’s experience and commitment to Iona and our community make him the right person to continue to build on Tim Cluess’ success.