Rick Pitino’s son to be head coach at FIU

After firing Isiah Thomas, Florida International is set to replace him with another recognizable name. Louisville coach Rick Pitino said Sunday that his son Richard Pitino is leaving his staff with the Cardinals to become the next coach at FIU, which has posted 12 straight losing seasons. FIU fired Thomas, a Basketball Hall of Fame player, on April 6 after going 26-65 in three seasons. FIU refused to confirm that Pitino and the Panthers had agreed on a deal, and players had not yet been told of the move by any school officials as of Sunday afternoon. “You know I’m delighted, but I’m going miss (him) terribly,” Rick Pitino said. “I think one of the great things in 35 years of coaching was spending three years with him. Watch him grow as a basketball coach, and you sort of don’t want it to end.” – AP