Richard Pitino Named Men’s Basketball Coach at Xavier University

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Richard Pitino has been appointed the new head coach of the Xavier University men’s basketball team, following a successful tenure at the University of New Mexico. The announcement was made on March 25, 2025, after Pitino led the Lobos to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and a 27-8 record in the 2024-25 season.

“We are excited to welcome Richard Pitino as our new men’s basketball head coach,” said Xavier Director of Athletics Greg Christopher. “He has proven himself as a winner at New Mexico and brings an impressive resume of success from his time at Minnesota and other programs.”

In his four seasons with New Mexico, Pitino compiled an overall record of 88-49, including a 17-3 mark in the Mountain West Conference, which secured him the title of Mountain West Coach of the Year in March. Under his leadership, New Mexico won the 2024 Mountain West Conference Championship and made significant strides in NCAA Tournament play, advancing to the second round this season after defeating Marquette.

“Xavier is one of the great brands in all of college basketball,” said Pitino. “It has always been a dream of mine to coach in the BIG EAST. The Cintas Center is going to be rocking. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Before his time at New Mexico, Pitino spent eight seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he led the Gophers to two NCAA Tournament berths and an NIT Championship. He was recognized as the 2017 Big Ten Coach of the Year by both coaches and media, as well as by the Associated Press.

Pitino began his coaching career at Florida International in the 2012-13 season. He has accumulated 13 seasons of experience as a head coach, achieving significant success with four NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT Championship.

During his coaching journey, Pitino also served as an assistant coach at prestigious programs, including Louisville, where he worked alongside his father, Rick Pitino, and at Florida under Billy Donovan. His time at Louisville included a run to the Final Four in 2012 and significant NCAA Tournament success over several seasons.

The Xavier Musketeers are transitioning after the departure of Sean Miller, who accepted the head coaching position at the University of Texas after three seasons with Xavier. Miller’s record at Xavier was 185-87, leading the team to the NCAA Tournament twice.

While Xavier is facing roster challenges with seven players graduating or leaving the program, Pitino expressed enthusiasm about the potential for growth and success. The Musketeers have already signed two four-star recruits for the upcoming season, adding to the anticipation surrounding Pitino’s leadership.

Fernando Lovo, Director of Athletics at New Mexico, expressed gratitude for Pitino’s contributions during his tenure. “For more than a month, we were engaged in extensive contract discussions and made an aggressive retention offer. Ultimately, Coach Pitino made a personal decision to pursue a new opportunity,” Lovo stated.

As Xavier prepares for a new chapter, Pitino’s experience and proven track record position him as a strong candidate to lead the program forward, with hopes for success in the BIG EAST and beyond.