Overview

• Richard Pitino officially leaves New Mexico after four seasons to become the head coach of Xavier University's men's basketball team.
• Pitino brings his entire New Mexico coaching staff to Xavier, with speculation that key players like Donovan Dent may follow.
• This move creates a father-son coaching rivalry in the Big East, as Rick Pitino leads St. John's, adding a compelling storyline to the conference.
• Pitino's tenure at New Mexico included back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and a Mountain West regular-season title this year.
• Reactions to the hire have been mixed, with some praising Pitino's potential and others questioning his ability to succeed at a high-major program.