BALTIMORE (WJZ) — It remains to be seen who will replace Mark Turgeon as the University of Maryland men’s basketball coach, but one thing is clear: it will not be Rick Pitino.
Pitino, the head coach of Iona College’s program, put to rest any speculation that he would take the job with a tweet Thursday morning ruling himself out.
“The University of Maryland is one of the premier institutions of higher learning. It’s basketball program can be among the nation’s best. I hope they find the next great Gary Williams,” Pitino tweeted. “I love coaching at Iona, and I’m totally committed to my players. It will not be me.”
Pitino’s remarks come a day after the hosts of The Sports Junkies, a radio show that airs in Washington, D.C., reported that Maryland is “heavily pursuing” him as its top choice for the job.
“He’s their No. 1 choice,” co-host Eric Bickel said. “They’re going hard after him right now and there are a couple of honors that are leading the charge.”
As a coach who knows how to win, including leading the University of Kentucky to an NCAA title in 1996, Pitino would have made a lot of sense to succeed Turgeon, who stepped down in December in what was described as a “mutual decision.”
Assistant coach Danny Manning continues to lead the program after stepping into interim duties.
The University of Maryland is one of the premier institutions of higher learning. It’s basketball program can be among the nation’s best. I hope they find the next great Gary Williams. I love coaching at Iona, and I’m totally committed to my players. It will not be me.
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) March 3, 2022