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Rick Pitino: 3 things to know about the Iona basketball, former Louisville, Celtics coach

The Tuscaloosa News

Rick Pitino is back in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and this time it's as the head coach of the Iona Gaels men's basketball team.

Pitino's Iona team received a No. 15 seed, and it faces No. 2 seed Alabama in the first round of the tournament.

Pitino has won two NCAA Tournaments, and he was there most recently in 2016-17 when his No. 2-seeded Louisville Cardinals lost in the second round to No. 7 seed Michigan.

Here is some basic information about Rick Pitino:

Full name: Richard Andrew Pitino
Age: 68 years old
Birthday: Sept. 18, 1952
Hometown: New York, New York
High School: Saint Dominic in Oyster Bay, New York
College: UMass

Check out these three more things to know about Rick Pitino.

Cecil Hurt:Can Alabama basketball go deeper in NCAA Tournament bracket than ever before?

Where is Rick Pitino coaching? Iona basketball coach

Coach Rick Pitino waves to Iona basketball fans following Tuesday's MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament win over Quinnipiac. The Gaels topped the Bobcats, 72-48, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Mar. 9, 2021.

The 2020-21 season is Rick Pitino's first season coaching the Iona men's basketball team.

Iona enters the NCAA Tournament 12-5 overall. It won the MAAC Tournament to earn an automatic berth.

Due to a COVID-19 pause, Iona did not play a game from Dec. 23 to Feb. 12.

Iona men's basketball:Rick Pitino returning to college basketball as new Iona coach

Rick Pitino basketball coach at Louisville, Kentucky Wildcats

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino during a news conference before basketball practice in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Davidson plays Louisville in an West Regional NCAA tournament second-round college basketball game on Thursday. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Rick Pitino served as the Kentucky Wildcats head coach from 1989-97. He took the team to the NCAA Tournament his final six seasons coaching UK with a Final Four berth in 1993 and 1997.

Pitino guided UK to the NCAA national championship in 1996. It beat Syracuse 76-67 in the 1996 national title game.

Louisville had Pitino as its head coach from 2001-17. His 2012-13 Louisville team won the NCAA national title, but it was later revoked by the NCAA for violations. He also took Louisville to the Final Four in 2005 and 2012.

In addition to Kentucky and Louisville, Pitino coached men's college basketball at Hawaii (1975-76), Boston University (1978-83) and Providence (1985-87).

Louisville men's basketball:Rick Pitino hopes Louisville 'will not give up its fight' to keep 2013 title

Rick Pitino basketball coach for Boston Celtics, New York Knicks

New York Knicks, from left, Kiki Vandeweghe, Patrick Ewing and Mark Jackson, share a laugh with their coach Rick Pitino during the final minutes of their game against the Chicago Bulls in New York, May 12, 1989. (AP Photo)

Rick Pitino was New York Knicks head coach from 1987-89. He then coached the Boston Celtics from 1997-2001.

As Knicks head coach, he went 90-74 overall. As Celtics head coach, Pitino went 102-146.

Pitino did not reach the playoffs during his tenure as Celtics head coach. He reached the playoffs both years that he coached the Knicks, reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals in 1989.

Here's more Rick Pitino news:

NCAA Tournament:Rick Pitino is back in the NCAA Tournament – with the Iona Gaels
Opinion:Opinion: Rick Pitino proves he's worth the controversy, deserves another shot to coach major program
Rick Pitino:3 scandals that tainted Rick Pitino's legacy at Louisville

Rick Pitino was a 2013 inductee to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Erik Hall is the lead digital producer for sports with the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.