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- Maryland reportedly has its sights set on Rick Pitino.
- Pitino, currently the head coach of Iona, is apparently atop the Terps’ list of candidates.
- Be sure to check out more sports stories at BroBible here.
Maryland parted ways with head coach Mark Turgeon back in December of this year and it sounds like they’ve been waiting to make a new hire in hopes to land Rick Pitino.
According to ‘The Sports Junkies‘ on 106.7 The Fan, the Terrapins are “heavily pursuing” the 69-year-old head coach to come take over the program.
“We’re not saying Rick is the guy [yet],” Junkies host Jason Bishop said. “We’re just saying that Maryland really likes Pitino. He’s their top dog.”
“He’s their number one choice,” Eric Bickel added. “They’re going hard after him right now and there are a couple donors that are leading the charge.”
Pitino is in his second season as Iona’s head coach after spending some time as the head coach of the Greek national team.
He was fired as Louisville’s head coach in 2017 after an NCAA investigation centered around an escort sex scandal involving recruits earlier in his career at Louisville. The school later went under investigation for an alleged ‘pay-for-play scandal involving recruits as well.
Pitino was able to push Iona into the NCAA Tournament last season after winning the MAAC conference tournament. He has the Gaels clicking again this season as well as they carry a 23-5 record into the final two games of the regular season.
College basketball fans had a mixed reaction to the news of Maryland’s pursuit of Pitino:
No doubt Coach Pitino could get the ship turned around at MD. I'm all in! https://t.co/tDlhYGMEfr
— Timmy (@on_theHARdWOOD) March 2, 2022
Please no Maryland https://t.co/JC5lbS4CdH
— Austin (@shokboi94) March 2, 2022
I will add my name as a booster for this. I’ll donate 50% salary https://t.co/SO0c0Bw7dQ
— Chives (@easymoneychives) March 2, 2022
Maybe they can get Art Briles for the football team too. https://t.co/jMUfkHB1ww
— @kleaptrot@bsky.social (@natzbandwagon) March 2, 2022
Love this, if u aint cheatin, u aint tryin#DirtyTerps🐢 https://t.co/sQx94BkfaQ
— Luka 💫 (@BUZZIN___) March 2, 2022
https://t.co/OvdnEZax0l pic.twitter.com/weF3095Hnd
— Matt Jergensen (@MattJergs) March 2, 2022
Would love this https://t.co/rJvm9vIH7T
— Brian (@Bmore_Sports8) March 2, 2022
This. This would not be a good idea imo https://t.co/MRWgU1XQhr
— 💬 (@sterling19_) March 2, 2022