Pitino Introduced in Festive Affair

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Tuesday night after 10 hours after it was announced that Richard Pitino would become the 22nd head coach in Lobo Basketball history, snow hit Albuquerque, almost like a small reminder that Pitino formerly coached at Minnesota.  Two days later, the sunshine that Albuquerque is truly known for came out to make for a festive afternoon in the sun.  Richard Pitino was formally introduced to the media, fans and boosters in a press conference held inside University Stadium due to COVID protocols to allow for Lobo fans to join in the fun.

Did they ever.

Pitino, has wife Jill and their three children Ava, Jack and Zoe strode onto the turf at University Stadium to a thunderous standing ovation from the fans gathered in the stands.  It was the first of many rounds of applause for Pitino, as his family met with Eddie Nuñez and his wife Jane.  Head football coach Danny Gonzales was there along with David Williams, a group that had never been together before, although you wouldn’t know it.

UNM played a video of Nuñez and company heading to Minnesota to pick up the Pitino clan, and it even captured Richard’s first walk down the iconic ramp.  The Pit has always been a mile high and louder than … but now, for Pitino, it’s home.

 

And if the fan reaction at the press conference is any indication, Lobo fans are happy that you can’t spell Pitino with P-I-T.  Eddie Nuñez talked of what he was looking for in a head coach for Lobo basketball.  “It was important to me that they checked off the criteria and they were the right fit for Lobo basketball.”  Nuñez mentioned high character, integrity, player development, understanding the culture of New Mexico and community investment, and Pitino checked off every box.  Nuñez conducted his remarks in a cherry blazer, and when he introduce Coach Pitino, Nuñez helped him don his very own cherry blazer.  This shouldn’t be a shock, but it was a perfect fit, and as Pitino took to the lecturn to more applause under the bright sunny sky, that cherry seemed a little to shine ever more so than usual.

A perfect day in the sun.

He thanked the administration, and seemed to be speaking directly to the fans.  He wants them in The Pit.  He knows how special it is when 15,000 cherry and silver clad Lobo fans wield their magic, becoming an extra defender that no team has an answer for.  “This is your team,” said Pitino. “This is the state’s team and we want to make you proud.”

“The standard that we are going to set, in the classroom, in the community and on the court will be special.  The number one thing we have to do is get this state back rolling again talking about New Mexico basketball because when it comes to it … we have something more special than anything any school in the country can ever offer, and it’s that building over there, The Pit,” said Pitino.

He was certainly at ease at the lectern, espousing his offensive and defensive philosophies (he had fun talking about wanting to play fast, noting that every new coach says that because no one would ever say they want to hold the ball and milk the clock), recruiting philosophies and even later about his very famous father and the potential of a New Mexico/Iona matchup, but through all of that, Pitino was very blunt about one thing.

“We are here to win championships,” he said, again to a big round of applause from the Lobo faithful.  “We are going to get to work on it and our recruits are going to know that that is the number one goal in mind is to win the championships.  Every single day we wake up we are going to do that for the unbelievable state of New Mexico, these unbelievable fans.”

“This is a special place and I can’t wait to get started.”

Lobo fans can’t wait either, because a packed Pit is sure to be awaiting Pitino’s sideline debut in college basketball’s most iconic of venues.