ESPN.com · Mar 26, 2025
Sources: Richard Pitino set to leave New Mexico for Xavier
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Xavier is expected to hire New Mexico's Richard Pitino as its next head coach, sources told ESPN on Tuesday night.
Pitino now will coach in the same league as his father, Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, who won Big East Coach of the Year earlier this month after leading St. John's to the league's regular-season and tournament championships.
Pitino is coming off arguably his best season as a head coach, leading the Lobos to the second round of the NCAA tournament before losing to 2-seed Michigan State on Sunday. The Lobos went 27-8 overall and won the Mountain West regular-season title before beating 7-seed Marquette in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
