Fans of college basketball were robbed of the chance to watch one of the sport's greatest coaches when Rick Pitino and St. John's were omitted by the selection committee for a spot in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
However, there is a Pitino dancing in March.
Richard Pitino and New Mexico are competing in the 2024 version of March Madness. The Lobos were one of a number of surprise berths to the tournament, earning an auto bid to the competition after winning the Mountain West conference.
A 10-8 record in conference play during the regular season resulted in a No. 6 seed for the Mountain West playoffs. But the Lobos ran the table in Las Vegas, winning four straight games and punching their ticket to March Madness with a win over San Diego State in the conference championship game.
It's New Mexico's first berth to the NCAA Tournament since 2014. The program was given a No. 11 seed by the committee, setting up a first-round matchup against No. 6 Clemson on Friday.
For Pitino, it's his first time in the Big Dance with Lobos and third time overall after making two appearances during his tenure with Minnesota. However, his appearance is going to have everyone asking the same question — is there a relationship between Richard and Rick Pitino?
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Is Richard Pitino related to Rick Pitino?
Yes, the two Pitinos do have a blood relationship. Richard Pitino is the son of Rick Pitino.
Rick Pitino is in the house as his son Richard Pitino coaches @UNMLoboMBB against Clemson. pic.twitter.com/YxvQ07sg7E
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 22, 2024
The pair have coached against one another three times so far in their careers, with the patriarch of the family holding the upper hand, 2-1.
The first two matchups came in 2012 and 2014 when the elder Pitino was still the head coach at Louisville. His son was the coach at FIU in 2012 when the Cardinals defeated the Panthers 79-55. Two years later, Pitino earned bragging rights over his son again when Louisville defeated Minnesota 81-68.
However, the last time the pair met, it was the younger Pitino who bested his father. Richard's New Mexico team defeated Rick's Iona squad 82-74 in a 2022 matchup.
MORE: Watch New Mexico vs. Clemson on Sling
Who is Richard Pitino?
Richard Pitino is one of five living children for the longtime basketball coaching legend and his wife, Joanne.
Out of Pitino's children, Richard is the only one so far to venture into the college basketball coaching sphere.
He got his start in college basketball while studying at Providence in the early 2000s. He began as a manager for the Friars basketball team under Tim Welch.
In 2004-05, he was an assistant under Tom Herrion at the College of Charleston before he was hired by Ron Everhart to act as an assistant coach at Northeastern the next year. He followed Everhart to Duquesne for the 2006-07 season before he joined his father at Louisville as an assistant.
After working under his dad for three seasons, Pitino left Louisville to take an assistant role with Florida, working alongside Billy Donovan. He returned to Louisville in 2011 as an associate head coach to his father, only lasting a season before he finally got a crack as a collegiate head coach.
In 2011, FIU hired Pitino to replace Isiah Thomas as head coach of the Panthers program. After just one year in the role, he was hired by Minnesota to take over the vacancy left after Tubby Smith's firing.
Pitino spent eight seasons at the helm of the Golden Gophers basketball team, helping the program to two NCAA Tournament berths and a NIT appearance, which the team won in 2014. He was fired after the 2020-21 season, a campaign in which Minnesota went winless in road games, going 0-10.
He did not have to wait long for a new gig. The same offseason, Pitino was hired by New Mexico. This marks his third season running the Lobos program.
Richard Pitino coaching record
Pitino spent just a single season at FIU before
| Years | School | W | L | Pct. |
| 2012-13 | FIU | 18 | 14 | .563 |
| 2013-2021 | Minnesota | 141 | 123 | .534 |
| 2021-Present | New Mexico | 61 | 40 | .604 |
| Total | 220 | 177 | .554 |
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