Rick Pitino sparks rumors of Louisville reunion after squashing beef with Cardinals

When college basketball fans think of Louisville basketball, the first coach that comes to mind is Rick Pitino. The current St. John's head coach was the head coach for the University of Louisville for 16 seasons and had an impressive 391-134 record, including a stacked March Madness resume.

Pitino, of course, led Louisville to their last National Championship, which the NCAA vacated. The Cardinals and Pitino ended on bad terms as Louisville fired the Hall of Famer back in 2017, four years after the Cardinals won the 2013 championship.

After Pitino left, Louisville struggled to find its identity back, but it appears they saw it with head coach Pat Kelsey. In two separate interviews with college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, both Kelsey and Pitino explain that there are no hard feelings toward each other, and a family reunion is long overdue.

Rick Pitino hints to return to Louisville for a blockbuster showdown

Louisville and Pitino are a reunion that college basketball fans have been craving for ever since he left. It is unknown how the fans will embrace him after the 2013 scandals and the Title being ripped away because of it, but one thing is clear, and that is Kelsey is opening his arms and is all-in on Pitino's return.

"I don't have to welcome the great Rick Pitino back; this is his town," Kelsey stated to Rothstein on his show. "He can come back anytime he wants, and we would love to have him back."

Kelsey gave nothing but praise to Pitino and even went on to say he is on his Mount Rushmore of college basketball coaches, and is now trending to be the best college basketball coach of all time. Kelsey has a lot of praise for the former Cardinals head coach, and he made it clear it is a goal of his to get Pitino back at KFC Yum! Center.

"To get him back here at some point would be one of the coolest things I think in the history of Louisville basketball," Kelsey stated.

Pitino's resume speaks for itself as he has made 23 NCAA Tournament appearances with five different programs. He has made it to the Final Four seven times and is just one of six coaches who can claim that stat. He is the only coach to win a Conference Title with five programs or more, and he holds a record of 885-311.

Pitino's run at Louisville was remarkable. A National Title, three Final Four runs, four regular-season conference titles, and three conference tournament titles. The beef is squashed between both parties, and it is time for the reunion to happen.

"I had a lot of problems with the University of Louisville," Pitino stated on Rothstein's latest show. "There are certain things that I will never forgive that they did, but that has nothing to do with the present administration at the University of Louisville because the people that I was upset about are no longer board of trustees.”

Louisville has made it clear recently that they would love to host Coach Pitino back in the Yum Center, and now Pitino emphasized he would come back in a "New York Minute".

"So, all is forgiven. All is forgotten," Pitino stated. "I no longer even think the slightest bit negatively about the University of Louisville, and I would go back in a New York minute. So, everything is forgiven."

Pitino went on to praise Kelsey and stated he is doing an "awesome" job at Louisville. The Cardinals and St. John's were reportedly trying to get a game for the 2025 schedule, as Kelsey is making it clear to AD Josh Heird that he wants Pitino to return. However, the matchup just didn't fit in the 2025 schedule, and there are talks about a future home-and-home.

If this matchup ever happens, it will immediately be the game of the year. Kelsey and Pitino made it clear they want the return to happen, but now it is up to the ADs to fit both programs' schedules.

For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.