Rick Pitino hired as Iona's next men's basketball coach. “I am delighted to welcome Rick Pitino to Gael Nation,” Iona Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski said in a statement. Rick Pitino, a Hall of Famer, is back in college basketball. Now, he's returning to college basketball, and Iona will own every criticism out there for its craven, just-win hire. Rick Pitino is a coaching genius. Of course Rick Pitino is the center of college basketball again. Adam Zagoria Contributor. He is also a rules compliance disaster. By hiring the scandal-plagues Rick Pitino, Iona showed the business of college basketball is what is most important to them. Opinions expressed by Forbes ... "I am delighted to welcome Rick Pitino to Gael Nation," said Iona … Rick Pitino Returns To College Basketball To Coach Iona. Rick Pitino is returning to college basketball as the next head coach at Iona, the school announced Saturday. Shortly after the hire was made official by Iona, ESPN conducted a phone interview with Pitino and Iona athletic director Matt Glovaski. Rick Pitino is finally back in the college ranks.