Why are older people so opposed to bringing back Rick Pitino?

harlanking

Redshirt
Mar 15, 2026
12
27
13
I'm 33

But...

The Resume speaks for itself
  • 2× NCAA National Champion head coach
  • 7× Final Four appearances as a head coach
  • 10+ conference tournament championships
  • 10+ regular season conference championships
  • Led three different programs to the Final Four (first coach to accomplish this)
  • Led five different programs to the NCAA Tournament
  • One of the few coaches to reach the Final Four at three different schools
  • Over 800 career coaching wins (college level)
  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2013)
  • Multiple National Coach of the Year awards
  • Known for pioneering full-court pressing defenses and high-tempo offenses
  • Developed dozens of NBA players and first-round draft picks
  • Successfully rebuilt multiple struggling programs into national contenders within a few seasons

Alot of older people I've talked to laugh at me when I propose this. I was a child when he won here and a teenager during the Louisville scandal. So I don’t really understand why someone with this resume who wants to coach here is opposed by a lot of older UK fans.

We're the 9th best basketball team in the SEC. How are we above bringing him back? Please help me understand
 

UK4Life#9

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
537
1,028
93
He’s too old, he hired prostitutes for underage children in attempt to stop Calipari from kicking his teeth in year after year, he left on his own free will, he gave us the middle finger in Rupp, he just got smacked in the mouth by Pope THIS season. I mean idk, could be a few reasons. 🤷🏼‍♂️
 

@BigBlueFanGA

Sophomore
Jul 6, 2025
185
182
43
He’s too old, he hired prostitutes for underage children in attempt to stop Calipari from kicking his teeth in year after year, he left on his own free will, he gave us the middle finger in Rupp, he just got smacked in the mouth by Pope THIS season. I mean idk, could be a few reasons. 🤷🏼‍♂️
Wait just a minute. Rick doesn't need unsupported nonsense as he has enough known problems. He did not hire those ugly hookers. Just stick to the facts.

Rick is old but in today's game he may have another 4-5 years in him, but not more.

Rick did UK wrong when he went to the pros.

The middle finger incident certainly happened but dont sit there on your high horse and pretend we didn't have it coming with all the taunts and hate tossed his way.

His scandals at UL that he was a part of likely burned any bridge back to UK. This is the biggest issue at this point and it can't be undone.
 
Last edited:

harlanking

Redshirt
Mar 15, 2026
12
27
13
He’s too old, he hired prostitutes for underage children in attempt to stop Calipari from kicking his teeth in year after year, he left on his own free will, he gave us the middle finger in Rupp, he just got smacked in the mouth by Pope THIS season. I mean idk, could be a few reasons. 🤷🏼‍♂️
I was younger and I had access to any woman I wanted on my phone at anytime.

I get the moral implications as I've gotten older. But given my life experiences younger men weren't that "naive" at that age. It's different times.
 

SamePooter

All-Conference
Feb 21, 2026
946
1,232
93
Why do you want Ricky P when we got this guy? And he’s gonna be here year three no matter what.
 

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UK4Life#9

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Jul 3, 2025
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Wait just a minute. Rick doesn't need unsupported nonsense as he has enough known problems. He did not hire those ugly cookers. Just stick to the facts.

Rick is old but in today's game he may have another 4-5 years in him, but not more.

Rick did UK wrong when he went to the pros.

The middle finger incident certainly happened but dont sit there on your high horse and pretend we didn't have it coming with all the taunts and hate tossed his way.

His scandals at UL that he was a part of likely burned any bridge back to UK. This is the biggest issue at this point and it can't be undone.

So, you think that he was completely clueless about the prostitutes? If so, that says more about him than if he did know about it.
 

UK4Life#9

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
537
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I was younger and I had access to any woman I wanted on my phone at anytime.

I get the moral implications as I've gotten older. But given my life experiences younger men weren't that "naive" at that age. It's different times.

So, if you had a 17 year old daughter, you’d be cool with grown men coming and shaking their junk in her face, inappropriatly touching, possibly having sex, all in an attempt to get her to come to that university????
 
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Artlaibesghost

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2022
923
1,795
93
I'm 33

But...

The Resume speaks for itself
  • 2× NCAA National Champion head coach
  • 7× Final Four appearances as a head coach
  • 10+ conference tournament championships
  • 10+ regular season conference championships
  • Led three different programs to the Final Four (first coach to accomplish this)
  • Led five different programs to the NCAA Tournament
  • One of the few coaches to reach the Final Four at three different schools
  • Over 800 career coaching wins (college level)
  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2013)
  • Multiple National Coach of the Year awards
  • Known for pioneering full-court pressing defenses and high-tempo offenses
  • Developed dozens of NBA players and first-round draft picks
  • Successfully rebuilt multiple struggling programs into national contenders within a few seasons

Alot of older people I've talked to laugh at me when I propose this. I was a child when he won here and a teenager during the Louisville scandal. So I don’t really understand why someone with this resume who wants to coach here is opposed by a lot of older UK fans.

We're the 9th best basketball team in the SEC. How are we above bringing him back? Please help me understand
As Darth Vader would say, " The NONSENSE is strong in this one"
 

harlanking

Redshirt
Mar 15, 2026
12
27
13
So, if you had a 17 year old daughter, you’d be cool with grown men coming and shaking their junk in her face, inappropriatly touching, possibly having sex, all in an attempt to get her to come to that university????

I thought all the girls were 18. The only articles I can see with underage girls have the term "allegations" attached to it.

Seems like an old school rupprafters rumor that has never been proven true.
 

@BigBlueFanGA

Sophomore
Jul 6, 2025
185
182
43
So, you think that he was completely clueless about the prostitutes? If so, that says more about him than if he did know about it.
I have no idea and neither do you. Thats the issue. You made a statement of fact, not me. I tend to believe he knew, at least to a point, but saying it as fact is incorrect.

Do I think he hid behind plausible deniability? Yep but that isn't a fact either.
 

@BigBlueFanGA

Sophomore
Jul 6, 2025
185
182
43
So, if you had a 17 year old daughter, you’d be cool with grown men coming and shaking their junk in her face, inappropriatly touching, possibly having sex, all in an attempt to get her to come to that university????
You changed the issue to something more emotionally difficult for men. Why do that?
 
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Reactions: SamePooter
May 4, 2015
10,475
13,528
86
I'm 33

But...

The Resume speaks for itself
  • 2× NCAA National Champion head coach
  • 7× Final Four appearances as a head coach
  • 10+ conference tournament championships
  • 10+ regular season conference championships
  • Led three different programs to the Final Four (first coach to accomplish this)
  • Led five different programs to the NCAA Tournament
  • One of the few coaches to reach the Final Four at three different schools
  • Over 800 career coaching wins (college level)
  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2013)
  • Multiple National Coach of the Year awards
  • Known for pioneering full-court pressing defenses and high-tempo offenses
  • Developed dozens of NBA players and first-round draft picks
  • Successfully rebuilt multiple struggling programs into national contenders within a few seasons

Alot of older people I've talked to laugh at me when I propose this. I was a child when he won here and a teenager during the Louisville scandal. So I don’t really understand why someone with this resume who wants to coach here is opposed by a lot of older UK fans.

We're the 9th best basketball team in the SEC. How are we above bringing him back? Please help me understand
Maybe before he took the job at St John’s but now he’s too old. Either way he is/would be a bridge coach
 

warrior-cat

Hall of Famer
Oct 22, 2004
191,621
156,161
113
Wait just a minute. Rick doesn't need unsupported nonsense as he has enough known problems. He did not hire those ugly cookers. Just stick to the facts.

Rick is old but in today's game he may have another 4-5 years in him, but not more.

Rick did UK wrong when he went to the pros.

The middle finger incident certainly happened but dont sit there on your high horse and pretend we didn't have it coming with all the taunts and hate tossed his way.

His scandals at UL that he was a part of likely burned any bridge back to UK. This is the biggest issue at this point and it can't be undone.
I don't think many of us would have turned down the amount of money being thrown his way to go to Boston. That and the NBA was enough to push him there. The only hit I have on him was taking the UL job after that knowing what it meant to UK fans. However, he still refers to UK as Camelot and I believe he knows how much he screwed up. But I agree with you on the scandals being a big factor for some.

I am 68 (at the OP) and would take him back. Forgiveness is Godly (that and he is still a very good coach) so... I am all in.
 

crazywill

Senior
Oct 29, 2018
322
560
93
I'm 33

But...

The Resume speaks for itself
  • 2× NCAA National Champion head coach
  • 7× Final Four appearances as a head coach
  • 10+ conference tournament championships
  • 10+ regular season conference championships
  • Led three different programs to the Final Four (first coach to accomplish this)
  • Led five different programs to the NCAA Tournament
  • One of the few coaches to reach the Final Four at three different schools
  • Over 800 career coaching wins (college level)
  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2013)
  • Multiple National Coach of the Year awards
  • Known for pioneering full-court pressing defenses and high-tempo offenses
  • Developed dozens of NBA players and first-round draft picks
  • Successfully rebuilt multiple struggling programs into national contenders within a few seasons

Alot of older people I've talked to laugh at me when I propose this. I was a child when he won here and a teenager during the Louisville scandal. So I don’t really understand why someone with this resume who wants to coach here is opposed by a lot of older UK fans.

We're the 9th best basketball team in the SEC. How are we above bringing him back? Please help me understand
I'm 76/ Been with Kentucky for 70+ years/ Bring 'em back Young Man
 

preacherfan

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2003
28,965
4,526
113
When Pitino took the UL job, he became public enemy number 1. I was never upset that he went to UL and was called a "Pitino lover" on this board because of it. Back then, any mention of Pitino coming back to UK would have been considered treason. It is interesting that over the years that has now changed.

I will always appreciate what he did here. What he did at UL, tarnished his legacy. As another poster said he would be a bridge due to his age. I don't think it is realistic for him to return unless it was to be an interim coach and train his future replacement. However, that model isn't really used that often in college basketball. Everybody wants to go out and get a ringer.
 

Eight_Banners

Junior
Feb 22, 2016
140
219
43
I'm 33

But...

The Resume speaks for itself
  • 2× NCAA National Champion head coach
  • 7× Final Four appearances as a head coach
  • 10+ conference tournament championships
  • 10+ regular season conference championships
  • Led three different programs to the Final Four (first coach to accomplish this)
  • Led five different programs to the NCAA Tournament
  • One of the few coaches to reach the Final Four at three different schools
  • Over 800 career coaching wins (college level)
  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2013)
  • Multiple National Coach of the Year awards
  • Known for pioneering full-court pressing defenses and high-tempo offenses
  • Developed dozens of NBA players and first-round draft picks
  • Successfully rebuilt multiple struggling programs into national contenders within a few seasons

Alot of older people I've talked to laugh at me when I propose this. I was a child when he won here and a teenager during the Louisville scandal. So I don’t really understand why someone with this resume who wants to coach here is opposed by a lot of older UK fans.

We're the 9th best basketball team in the SEC. How are we above bringing him back? Please help me understand
Why is any UK fan obsessed with bringing in a 73-year-old coach who has a significant losing record against UK in the last 16 years, and lost to the current coach of whom they desperately want to rid themselves?
 

wildcatdon

Heisman
Oct 17, 2012
10,323
13,050
113
I'm 33

But...

The Resume speaks for itself
  • 2× NCAA National Champion head coach
  • 7× Final Four appearances as a head coach
  • 10+ conference tournament championships
  • 10+ regular season conference championships
  • Led three different programs to the Final Four (first coach to accomplish this)
  • Led five different programs to the NCAA Tournament
  • One of the few coaches to reach the Final Four at three different schools
  • Over 800 career coaching wins (college level)
  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2013)
  • Multiple National Coach of the Year awards
  • Known for pioneering full-court pressing defenses and high-tempo offenses
  • Developed dozens of NBA players and first-round draft picks
  • Successfully rebuilt multiple struggling programs into national contenders within a few seasons

Alot of older people I've talked to laugh at me when I propose this. I was a child when he won here and a teenager during the Louisville scandal. So I don’t really understand why someone with this resume who wants to coach here is opposed by a lot of older UK fans.

We're the 9th best basketball team in the SEC. How are we above bringing him back? Please help me understand
Don’t include this older person in your statement. I was all for bringing him back a long time ago and again last year instead of Pope. Another huge blunder by Mitch.
 

preacherfan

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2003
28,965
4,526
113
Because the coach just blew out Connecticut and won his conference tournament
I gotta ask, do posters still want Hurley since he was the one blown out? How about Oats and Golden? My point is that we can't just take a coach because he had a good run of a year or two. Or, do posters disagree with that?
 

buster3.0

All-Conference
Aug 10, 2009
5,218
1,828
113
So, you think that he was completely clueless about the prostitutes? If so, that says more about him than if he did know about it.
If he didn't know about them, that means he was neglicent because he was spending too much time at his Florida house in the off season instead of tending to his own program in Louisville. Being a head coach and demonstrating the aloffness and detachment to not be aware of such things is a firable offense.
 
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Phil_The_Music2

Heisman
Nov 29, 2010
3,194
12,906
113
Some folks only care about winning and nothing else. That's your choice. Personally, I want to support a team that wins and has at least some measure of class. I forgive Pitino. But that doesn't change the fact that he's a slimy human being. I'd prefer not to endorse that. I'm 46 for what it's worth.
 

CatBearPig

All-Conference
Apr 26, 2024
693
1,454
93
Some folks only care about winning and nothing else. That's your choice. Personally, I want to support a team that wins and has at least some measure of class. I forgive Pitino. But that doesn't change the fact that he's a slimy human being. I'd prefer not to endorse that. I'm 46 for what it's worth.

100%. This country really needs to get a grip. Awful human beings are rewarded way too much in our society.
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
19,665
34,274
113
I noticed my response about Pope was ignored by the other poster. I understand as he has no logical response to it. Those guys that have won big 1 to 2 seasons aren't UK material but the guy that had never won big is ok to the same poster.
 

catfando

All-Conference
Mar 31, 2009
1,537
1,670
113
At 73? Love him and what he did here. But he's too old. We just need to find the next Pitino. But first, we need an AD that can recognize talented coaches. And get JMI out the picture.
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
44,707
80,484
113
I’d certainly take him back for 4-5 years if he wanted to come. Let him transition into another coach if next time we can’t get one of the elite guys to move. Only as a last resort but he would keep us relevant and recruit well enough for sure.
 
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BlueVelvetFog

Heisman
Apr 12, 2016
14,201
19,664
78
One thing I'm amazed by are guys in their 80s that coach. Two names that come to mind are Bobby Bowden and (notwithstanding the pedo scandal) Joe Paterno.
 
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