Richard Pitino Flying High On Minnesota Money
After a season filled with controversy, another story involving Richard Pitino comes out showing the discord between the Minnesota Gophers basketball program.
This weekend we learned of the newest development to knock the Gophers basketball program down a notch. Reggie Lynch, the team’s projected starting center, was suspended indefinitely after being arrested on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct. Earlier last season, three Gophers basketball players were suspended for posting a sex tape on twitter. This program is lacking structure and discipline.
With all the problems surrounding this program, you would think it would be tough to recruit the nation’s top players to come to play for the program. Yet Richard Pitino is out on the “recruiting trail.” As the teams head basketball coach for the last three season, Pitino was given $50,000 per year to allocate towards private jet flights to recruit players.
According to an internal audit acquired by the Star Tribune, Pitino racked up a total bill of $325,000 over the three-year period. He has overspent by $175,000. We have to remember Pitino finished last season with an 8-23 record. He has a 51-51 record over his three years as the Gopher head coach. When a team has success, they tend to not mind a little overspending by its coach in the recruiting process. Especially if he is signing highly touted recruits.
Last season Jim Harbaugh spent $136,000 in a 12 day period. He also brought results with the
More from Sporting Sota
- Minnesota Twins bullpen will be their downfall
- Top 5 Minnesota Twins Pitching Prospects
- Kyle Rudolph signing gives stability to Minnesota Vikings offense
- Jake Odorizzi’s emergence fueling Twins starting staff
- Former Minnesota Twins player David Ortiz shot
spending. Many top recruits were signed this season and I would be interested to see what he spent this offseason with the satellite camps included.
The only top recruit coming to Minnesota next season is Amir Coffey, a local prospect who Pitino did not have to do any private jet flying to scout.
The reports stated that in addition to private jet spending, both basketball programs spent more than allowed on hotels, private cars, birthday parties, holiday parties, meals, and valet parking. The audit even flagged “unreasonable” spending by Pitino involving “multiple” rental cars returned without full gas tanks and instances of parking at the airport even though the team had rented a bus.
With a new athletic director, will there be consequences for Pitino? Most likely not, as mentioned earlier he has put together the best class in recent years. He also has a $7.1 million buyout in his contract if he were to be let go. So, he is here to stay.