Louisville also had their 2013 title and 2012 Final Four successes under Pitino vacated by the NCAA, after an investigation over an escort sex scandal involving recruits. As a result of that scandal, in 2017, Pitino was charged by the NCAA with "failure to monitor his basketball program", and suspended for five games.
Surprisingly, the Breakers are interested in his services, with General Manager Dillon Boucher confirming to NZME that discussions have taken place.
"I can confirm that we have spoken with Coach Pitino's representatives but we will not be commenting on an active coaching search," Boucher said.
For his part, Pitino quickly dismissed the idea.
"It's total BS — someone trying to poke fun at me," Pitino told the Louisville Courier Journal.
"Lot of comedians out of work."
That comment likely refers to the Pardon My Take podcast, the hosts of whom have an stake in the Breakers new ownership group, and regularly poke fun at Pitino.
For many reasons, the partnership between the Breakers and Pitino was never likely to happen, but this is another sign that the Breakers are going to plonk themselves right in the middle of the sporting news cycle this offseason - for better or for worse.
