Ralph Willard coming to assist Pitino, not take over

Comforting stuff from Bozich:

Willard was not fired by Holy Cross. He could have stayed forever. But Willard said the challenges of mid-major coaching had become more daunting. He has survived prostate cancer and open-heart surgery. Willard and Pitino have debated this move nearly every summer.

"We've always talked about doing something special," Willard said. "Now is the time to do it."

5 months ago Mike Rutherford 25 comments 0 recs |

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Rumor Warehouse

I’ve fielded several comments/emails from friends (mostly UK fans) over the past 24 hours, speculating that Pitino is headed to USC. Is this in the local papers or something? I realize Floyd just stepped down from the position so perhaps this is another over-exuberant rumor that has no substance, which is initially the reaction I had. Pitino’s ghost “camp” seems to be doing a lot of virtual work lately.

On a related note, this lastest UL BB hire (Coach Willard) could be manipulated to strengthen or deter such an argument, so it would be hard to use it as firepower for either point of view.

Maybe someone else has heard the same USC rumors and can provide some insight/input…?

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jun 11, 2009 6:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

USC?

thats comical-almost as much as the HS coaching job rumor straightpinkie put up.

by twistedwedge on Jun 11, 2009 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It came from here

http://johnclay.bloginky.com/2009/06/10/get-ready-for-the-rick-pitino-to-southern-cal-speculation/

If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.

by btcoop71 on Jun 11, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks for the link

Some of Clay’s arguments are pretty flaccid…anyone could take those “circumstances” and spin them to argue whatever side of this issue that they’re personally biased towards. With my own UL bias, I want to think that Pitino wouldn’t want to move to another team without first resolving the Sypher issue. Why would he move away in the middle of something like that? I feel that it would always taint his tenure at this new job, per se, and that team’s fan base would never forget. Ok, this is starting to sound like those irrational comments on John Clay’s blog linked above…perhaps it helps make my point.

I definitely see the historical context of the Willard coach-in-waiting theory (UK in late 90s), uts
certainly more plausible than the other issues Clay and other UK fans (I went there) are spewing but it just doesn’t feel like that’s happening to me. Feels more like a situation where people are creating stories instead of reporting the news….but to be fair, opinion is a big part of a sports columnist’s job description and attraction grabbing tactics.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jun 11, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reason people think Willard is the coach in waiting...

…is because Pitino wanted him to take over when he left UK in 97.

If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.

by btcoop71 on Jun 11, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

willard is 63

Im sorry-but he isnt replacing RP..if anything he will retire here as an assistant.

by twistedwedge on Jun 11, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pumped

Willard is going to help out a bunch. He’s not going to be the next UofL head coach as some of the rumors say. He’s 63 years old. He’ll retire with Pitino. TJ will find a Hot up and coming coach to replace Pitino, not a 63 year old coach. If we had him the last two years we probably make it to the final four. Pitino has been grooming too many young guys and didn’t have a veteran coach to fill in the gaps. This is a great hire.

"You win some, You lose some but you never stop trying to do your best" Denny Crum

by DANCARD on Jun 11, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

by twistedwedge on Jun 11, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also agreed...

and as I mentioned to another dislocated Card fan here in central Ohio… Louisville basketball was great before Pitino and it will be great after Pitino. Willard is for the here and now and it’s all good!

Grog

"There is no OFF position to the genius switch" - D. Letterman

by GrogInOhio on Jun 15, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I fear to say thing,

but something in my old bones tells me that Mr. Pitino may have coached his last game at our beloved university. Hope to goodness I’m wrong about this.

theoldman

by theoldman on Jun 11, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think you're just being paranoid

Haven’t people grown old of all these rumors and whatnot? Seriously, who follows Pitino as HC isn’t RP’s decision. It’s TJ’s. RP will have a say in the matter, because I think he cares about the program that he’s building, but it won’t be a 63 yr old coach who couldn’t quite hack it at the big time. Rarely do I comment on these type of threads, but I really wonder why people think Pitino is leaving after saying multiple times that he’s not. I guess we’re all fearful because of Petrino. But I can only name a few places where I couldn’t blame the coach for leaving us (outside of the NBA):

1) Carolina
2) Kansas
3) NBA
4) Alma mater

That’s about it. I can’t see a coach leaving UL to coach UK, Duke, IU, Cuse, much less the likes of USC. I’m not naive enough to think that Pitino was completely innocent in the whole Sacramento thing, but honestly, look at what he has coming to UL: one of his best friends, a brand new arena, some young talent, and a new intense rival just 70 miles away

by irish2705 on Jun 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great points irish

The recent epidemic of turnover amongst high-viz college coaches has had a frog-in-the-kettle type of affect as far as the fans being de-sensitized to this type of thing happening…especially for UL fans who still had the fresh taste of orange peel in their mouths when Petrino left for Atlanta (same could be said of John L.‘s sudden departure). I think this starts to create paranoia and everyone looks for any possible reason for the coach to leave and points to “circumstances” that strengthen their argument. This is a big reason I wouldn’t be shocked if Pitino leaves this Summer.

I will admit that, in relation to every other Top 50 NCAABB schools’ head coach, Pitino has quite a few more legit “circumstances” that could be used as arguments for his departure…but as irish mentioned above, I don’t see him going to a place like USC.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jun 11, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just hope he can teach

We need a half-court offense and man-to-man defense. I agree with Bozich that Rick needs someone who will challenge him. I doubt these young assistants have really kept Rick in check. Some of his in-game strategies are just mind blowing.

by centrecard on Jun 11, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

as iron sharpens iron...

Guess we got a little off-topic here in entertaining sensational rumors…I think we all respect what a coach like Ralph Willard can bring to a college basketball program. After Pitino vanished due to the Sypher crap and our recruits started dropping out of high school, this is the first time I’ve gotten considerably hyped about the ‘09-’10 UL basketball season.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jun 11, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This makes me thing Pitino might be on this way out… Holy Cross Coach Willard, Pitino’s Replacement At Louisville?

by obsessedwithsports on Jun 11, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

damn...

…and all this time I thought we were trading coaches with Holy Cross. If we get Willard, but Holy Cross doesn’t get Pitino… That doesn’t seem like a fair trade – I mean we’d have to give them what, like Masiello AND McCarty for Willard, right?

Pitino will be UL’s coach next year. Barring (un)forseen circumstances. If something wacky happens midstream with crazy b***h Sypher, and RP has to take some time off, RW will be more than a capable replacement in the SHORT TERM. It was a strategic move by RP, and a good one at that.

by CardChakra on Jun 11, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really cant see him bringing on someone older than he is to take over the UL basketball program. That just doesnt make sence. UL has never been a school which frequently turns over coaches so I cant even see TJ allowing it to happen.

If Pitino were getting ready to leave, " and I dont think he is" I would think names like " Travis Ford, and Pelphry would be coming up. There are several young up and coming coaches out there that could move in and have MANY years of success.

by lvl1 on Jun 11, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think that

willard leaving a job he was secure at and that he passed up higher profile jobs has people wondering what is happening. the pitino rumors have been buzzing nonstop this offseason to the point i wouldn’t be shocked if rick took a few months off before the season started

by cardscott5 on Jun 11, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So did anyone see the news @5?

RP said he isnt going anywhere. There is zero truth to any coaching rumors. He loves coaching here, loves Louisville, loves the state and is going to retire here.

He said there has been a lot of anything but the truth going around town lately, but the truth will be known soon. (I guess thats as close to a comment on the Sypher extortion as were gonna get)

by twistedwedge on Jun 12, 2009 5:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree but...

…that’s coming from a coach who half-jokingly said this past season that coaches who announce they aren’t leaving are usually liars.

I agree with you that he’ll be here this season but Pitino coming on a news show and saying he’s not going anywhere means nothing to a lot of fans with their ears to the ground.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jun 13, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excerpt from Bozich's recent article, same subject:

Focus is a Pitino specialty. He proved it last season, although only insiders knew it. Look back at the 2009 schedule. You’ll notice Pitino coached the Cards to nine consecutive victories and two Big East titles after he received his first threatening phone call [from Sypher]. It’s not the performance of a man who will wobble.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jun 13, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Pitino were to leave...

…it would look like he was running away from a) Sypher and b) Calipari. The man is just too damn competitive to run away from either court. He will be here until he retires.

by centrecard on Jun 14, 2009 5:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs