Rick Pitino cheered for Richard Pitino as he coaches New Mexico match in NCAA Tournament: How are the two related?

Hall of Famer Rick Pitino coaches the men's basketball team at St. John's University, and now his son Richard Pitino is following in his footsteps. Richard Pitino, on the other hand, is the head coach for the University of New Mexico men's team. During the NCAA Tournament, Rick Pitino was spotted watching his son coach New Mexico in their match against Michigan State.

Rick Pitino tied the knot with Joanne Minardi in 1976, and they welcomed five children together. One of their sons was Richard who chose basketball as a career. When Rick was the head coach in Louisville, Richard Pinto would serve as assistant coach between 2007 and 2009. Later on, he would become the associate head coach for the Cardinals.
This season, Rick Pitino suffered a loss as the St. John's did not advance to the next round at the March Madness. However, he showed up on the next day to the NCAA match between New Mexico and Michigan State. During the match, Rick Pitino looked like a proud father cheering on for his son and the team from the stands. While at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, he was also joined by his granddaughter, Jacqueline Pitino. However, the match ended with a loss for The Lobos with the scoreboard as 63-71. Rick Pitino was seen sharing a warm hug with his granddaughter, consoling her as she was full of tears.

When Richard was interviewed after the game about the presence of Rick Pinito, he shared, “He is a phenomenal father, but it wasn’t like a surprise. I knew he was coming, and very, very grateful. It was a devastating loss, and I was very appreciative he came.”
While neither of the teams coached by the Pitino's advanced this season to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, we cannot wait for more thunderous performances by St John's and New Mexico.
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When it comes to Richard Pitino's coaching career, this is his fourth year with New Mexico. Previously, he served as head coach for Minnesota between 2013 to 2021. On the other hand, Rick Pitino has built a legacy leading two teams, Kentucky and Louisville to national championship victories. He was also inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.