As St. John’s coach Rick Pitino prepares for the 2025-26 season, his legendary time at Louisville remains a highlight of his career and the history of this sport. While his tenure was full of groundbreaking achievements, it was also marked by controversies, especially the one that came after he was fired from the position.
In a recent appearance on an online interview, Pitino shared his thoughts and reflected on how he thinks about Louisville now and if he will ever come back to the program.
Rick Pitino Talks About His Grievance and Forgiveness Towards Louisville
On the “CBS Sports College Basketball” podcast, Rick Pitino addressed his Louisville exit, saying, “There’s certain things I will never forgive that they did, but that has nothing to do with the present administration at the University of Louisville because the people that I was upset about are no longer board of trustees.”
He continued, “I really wasn’t upset that they fired me. Anybody can be fired. I’m okay with that. It was the treatment they gave Tom Jurich.” However, he also noted about recent amendments, saying, “Just recently they named the street outside of the young of the practice facility Tom Jurich Way. So, all is forgiven. All is forgotten.”
Talking about his potential return to the program again, he shared, “I no longer even think the slightest bit negatively about the University of Louisville, and I would go back in a New York minute.”
Rick Pitino Reflects on Louisville Legacy, Open to Future Return
Pitino accepted responsibility for his tenure’s highs and lows, saying, “I have no problem with them terminating me at all. So I’ve got to take responsibility for what happened. That was, but I also take responsibility for 17 unbelievable years, three final fours, and a national championship. So great memories, great place.”
His 2005, 2012, and 2013 Final Four runs, culminating in a 2013 title (later vacated), made him the first coach to win NCAA championships with two schools. Despite the 2017 suspension and 2018 vacating of the title due to a scandal involving staffer Andre McGee, Pitino’s pride in Louisville’s achievements still stands firm.
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In the end, Pitino’s openness to returning shows that the legend is still ready to mend his bond with Louisville, where he led the Cardinals to a 12-4 Big East finish in 2007 and an Elite Eight in 2008.
As he coaches St. John’s, his comments suggest no lingering animosity. The vacated 2013 title and 2012 Final Four remain scars, but Pitino’s focus on “great memories” and Jurich’s recognition could pave the way for a future Louisville appearance, potentially as a guest or advisor, solidifying his place in Louisville’s Basketball history on a good note.