Louisville Head Coach Pat Kelsey knows exactly where he stands with Rick Pitino. When the opportunity arose to potentially face Pitino’s St. John’s squad, Kelsey didn’t hesitate to roll out the red carpet for the Hall of Fame coach who built Cardinal basketball into a powerhouse. His message was simple but powerful: Louisville will always be Pitino’s home.
Why Does Pat Kelsey Believe Rick Pitino Deserves a Louisville Homecoming?
During a CBS Sports College Basketball interview, Kelsey was asked about potential discussions regarding hosting Pitino’s team. His response showed nothing but respect for the coach who transformed Louisville basketball.
“When you say something like, hey, Coach Kelsey says he’s welcome back anytime, I don’t have to welcome the great Rick Pitino back. This is his town, right? I mean, he can come back anytime he wants, and we would love to have him back,” Kelsey explained.
For Kelsey, the recent success speaks volumes about Pitino’s enduring coaching brilliance. The 72-year-old coach turned St. John’s into a legitimate championship contender, leading the Red Storm to a Big East title and a No. 2 NCAA Tournament seed in just his second season in Queens. That rapid transformation followed similar success at Iona, where Pitino proved he could still work magic on the sidelines.
Kelsey believes these recent accomplishments should silence any remaining doubts about Pitino’s place among college basketball’s elite coaches.
“I think on most college basketball, what do you call it, Mount Rushmores? Coach Pitino has always been up there, but since he’s come back, the success he had at Iona, and then he goes to St. John’s, and he’s turned them into one of the best programs in college basketball again so quickly,” Kelsey said.
The current Cardinals coach also shared a personal connection to Pitino’s legacy that hits close to home. Working in the same office where Pitino once planned championship runs creates a daily reminder of the program’s history.
“Just to know that sometimes I think about it, I’m sitting here in this office, and I have the same office as the great Rick Pitino. It’s humbling,” he revealed.
Kelsey’s enthusiasm about a potential Pitino return extends beyond simple respect. He sees it as a moment that would create one of the most significant chapters in program history.
“To get him back here at some point would be one of the coolest things, I think, in the history of Louisville basketball. We will look forward to that, obviously, when it comes down the road in the future, but now we’ve got to focus on the present.”
How Does Rick Pitino’s Complex Louisville Legacy Shape This Moment?
Rick Pitino’s 16-year tenure at Louisville created a basketball dynasty that few programs can match. From 2001 to 2017, his Cardinals compiled a 416-143 record while reaching three Final Four appearances and capturing the 2013 NCAA Championship, though the title was later vacated due to recruiting violations.
However, Pitino’s Louisville chapter ended in controversy when FBI investigations in 2017 exposed widespread corruption in college basketball recruiting. The scandal sent shockwaves through the sport, with Louisville finding itself at the center of a federal probe that revealed a complex network of payments to players and recruits across multiple programs.
Despite the turbulent ending, Kelsey’s comments make clear that Louisville still belongs to Pitino in many meaningful ways. The current coach’s genuine respect for what Pitino accomplished during those 16 years demonstrates that, regardless of how the relationship ended in 2017, the foundation he built remains unshakeable.
This perspective from Kelsey suggests the Louisville family is ready to separate Pitino’s coaching genius from the circumstances of his departure. With time providing clarity and Pitino’s recent success reinforcing his Hall of Fame credentials, the door appears wide open for a reunion that could heal old wounds while celebrating an undeniable legacy.