Gophers Coach Richard Pitino to speak at June 22 meeting

The Rotary Club of Edina will welcome Richard Pitino as program speaker at the Thursday, June 22, meeting. Pitino is the head coach of the University of Minnesota men's basketball team. He was the 2017 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Richard Pitino recently finished his fourth season as the 17th head coach of the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gopher men’s basketball team. The 2017 Big Ten Coach of the Year as voted by the league's media and head coaches, Pitino led the Gophers to a school-record 23 regular season wins and an NCAA appearance for the first time since 2013. Earning a No. 5 seed in the tournament—the Gophers' highest since 1982—Pitino guided the Gophers to an 11-win Big Ten season, the most since the 1990 campaign. Four Gophers received All-Big Ten honors, including First Team selection Nate Mason and Defensive Player of the Year Reggie Lynch along with third teamer Jordan Murphy and All-Freshman selection Amir Coffey.

 

Pitino also received top coaching honors in the Big Ten from the Associated Press as well as NABC District 7 Coach of the Year. Pitino's third season saw several accomplishments, including the selection of freshman Jordan Murphy to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. He was the Gophers’ first honoree since 2005 and only the third ever. The Gophers also picked up signature victories over No. 6 Maryland at home, along with improving to 3-0 under Pitino in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge after a home victory over Clemson in November.

 

Pitino came to the University of Minnesota after spending one season at the helm of the Florida International University (FIU) basketball program. Prior to his arrival in South Florida, FIU had not had a winning season since 1999–2000 and in the three seasons before his hiring posted a combined record of 26-65. In just one season, Pitino led the program to 18 wins, the fourth-most in program history, and its first appearance in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game.

 

Prior to leading FIU, Pitino served as the Associate Head Coach for one season and an assistant for two other seasons under his father, Rick, at Louisville. In three years overall with the Cardinals, he helped the program to a combined 88-25 record, a pair of NCAA Elite Eight berths (2008 and 2009) and one NCAA Final Four appearance (2012). Pitino also spent time as an assistant for two seasons under Billy Donovan at Florida. Pitino has also spent time as an assistant at Duquesne (2006-07) as well as at Northeastern (2005–2006).

 

The Rotary Club of Edina meets Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. at the Edina Country Club. All are welcome. Cost for lunch and the program is $20 for adults, $12 for children. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted at the door. There is a service fee on credit card payments.