GopherLady
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Here are my notes on the press conference. Will post when they send out the transcript:
Teague:
• Teague wanted a Relentless recruiter, someone to develop our student athletes, and manage and build this program - Coach Pitino fits all of those.
• Timeframes, it went very well, we were very pleased with the search
• These things take time, it's a search, you meet with people, you talk to people (for Sid's questions on if you're such a genius, why did it take so long).
• I've been fortunate enough to be involved in Billy Donovan's coaching tree. He told me a funny story about Richard's preparation...he said there's 2 people that Rick Pitino that he's put an immense amount or pressure on, himself and Richard. That's why he's so prepared.
• I'm not going to talk about any specific candidates, the search really went well. I didn't have a timeframe from the beginning. We wanted to find the right fit.
• It's important not just for me, but our fans, our student body and student athletes. I didn't look at it like it's a huge deal for me, it's a huge deal for the University.
• One thing I can control, is the relationship Richard and I have. We're going to be attached at the hip. I want him here a long time.
Pitino:
• I'm extremely excited about this opportunity. MN has one of the best traditions in college bball, one of the best home courts, a great fan base
• We're going to press on every possession on every make. It's going to be a style that the kids love to play. We're going to by physically and mentally in shape. It's going to be a great brand of basketball.
• When the opportunity to be the coach at the U came up, I was extremely excited about it. I know how great this place is. He is one of the best athletic directors in the country (on Norwood Teague). The people is what makes the job, that's what makes this job so special.
• I see so many opportunities, this is such a passionate fanbase. I think sky's the limit for this place. We have to do a good job of recruiting, it always starts with that. We have a great experience to sell.
• I've been fortunate to learn under 2 of the best coaches that have coached this game.
• I don't think it was as much myself selling myself to Norwood, or him selling himself. With him, it was more, we've got to get the right fit, and we need to work together. I was more excited that I had an opportunity to talk to him.
• I have so much respect for Tubby Smith, he left us a very solid program here.
• I'm very proud of my father. It's not tough to be Rick Pitino's son, I'm proud of it. He's a legend, he's changed the game in many, many ways. I embrace it very much. I think it's fun, to coach last year, and run my own program...when you work under Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan, I had to figure out what worked for me.
• I never really thought about it (being a HC at his young age) - I was excited about what I was building at FIU. The fact that I'm sitting here right now is a dream come true.
• I believe this is one of the best jobs in college basketball.
• We're looking to get the right fit (for scholarships), we'll watch a lot of film over the next few days. We'll go out recruiting, and see if someone fits those needs.
• When you take over a program, you take it day by day. I'll take it one day at a time, that's the way you build a program. If these guys reach the goals, acting the right way, doing the things in the classroom, those things take care of themselves.
• I certainly embrace the fact that I'm young, I don't try to hide from it. I have great relationships with my players.
• I don't try to be Rick Pitino or Billy Donovan, I just try to be myself and embrace it.
• I think he said "are you crazy?" - we didn't need to talk much over, there wasn't much thinking.
• What do you look for in a coaching staff? When you build a staff, I want to have guys that are hopefully better than me. Live and die with this program. Recruiting is a very important piece to this. Guys that will work extremely hard.
• The practice facility will come, and when it does, it will be great. Right now, we have so much to sell at Minnesota. One of the best schools, arenas, etc. We'll sell what we have right now, and worry about what we don't have later.
• Everyone calls me different things, so whatever works for you.
• Do you view this as a final destination? That would be tremendous. This is absolutely the place I want to be. We hope to be here for the rest of our lives.
• It always takes time when you introduce a new style of play. Anytime you implement a whole new system, it will take some time.
• I'm looking forward to building a great staff, it's extremely important to me. We'll hopefully meet with some guys this weekend.
• Teague just got here 9 months ago, you're looking at one of the top AD's in the country, I have zero doubt in my mind that he'll get a practice facility done. We have enough to sell in Williams Arena right now.
• GH question - as one of the youngest coaches in the country, what challenges do you face. Every job is challenging. I'm very confident that I can walk into one of these homes, and sell a lot.
• I've met with the players earlier today, we spent about 15 minutes together. I'm looking forward to meeting with these guys individually. I haven't been able to do that too much just yet.
• I am very familiar with the quality of AAU basketball in this state, these kids are going to be well coached and well prepared at the college level. I'm excited to get out and meet these coaches better.
• I have not talked to Tubby about the job. I'm extremely excited to go head to head with my Dad, hopefully he fights fair. He's a legend, he's changed my life in so many ways, he's one of the best. If I'm not going against him, I'm hoping he's helping us.
• Our 1st game at FIU - we probably had 100 people there, and we continued to pack the place. I think they've only been around for 30 years, so they are really building. I was very fortunate to work there.
• I look at how excited I am to go against Big 10 teams. I watched IU play, that's extremely fast paced. I want to impose our style on other programs.
I would like to set up a home and home with Louisville, but I'll wait until he loses a few of those players!
Teague:
• Teague wanted a Relentless recruiter, someone to develop our student athletes, and manage and build this program - Coach Pitino fits all of those.
• Timeframes, it went very well, we were very pleased with the search
• These things take time, it's a search, you meet with people, you talk to people (for Sid's questions on if you're such a genius, why did it take so long).
• I've been fortunate enough to be involved in Billy Donovan's coaching tree. He told me a funny story about Richard's preparation...he said there's 2 people that Rick Pitino that he's put an immense amount or pressure on, himself and Richard. That's why he's so prepared.
• I'm not going to talk about any specific candidates, the search really went well. I didn't have a timeframe from the beginning. We wanted to find the right fit.
• It's important not just for me, but our fans, our student body and student athletes. I didn't look at it like it's a huge deal for me, it's a huge deal for the University.
• One thing I can control, is the relationship Richard and I have. We're going to be attached at the hip. I want him here a long time.
Pitino:
• I'm extremely excited about this opportunity. MN has one of the best traditions in college bball, one of the best home courts, a great fan base
• We're going to press on every possession on every make. It's going to be a style that the kids love to play. We're going to by physically and mentally in shape. It's going to be a great brand of basketball.
• When the opportunity to be the coach at the U came up, I was extremely excited about it. I know how great this place is. He is one of the best athletic directors in the country (on Norwood Teague). The people is what makes the job, that's what makes this job so special.
• I see so many opportunities, this is such a passionate fanbase. I think sky's the limit for this place. We have to do a good job of recruiting, it always starts with that. We have a great experience to sell.
• I've been fortunate to learn under 2 of the best coaches that have coached this game.
• I don't think it was as much myself selling myself to Norwood, or him selling himself. With him, it was more, we've got to get the right fit, and we need to work together. I was more excited that I had an opportunity to talk to him.
• I have so much respect for Tubby Smith, he left us a very solid program here.
• I'm very proud of my father. It's not tough to be Rick Pitino's son, I'm proud of it. He's a legend, he's changed the game in many, many ways. I embrace it very much. I think it's fun, to coach last year, and run my own program...when you work under Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan, I had to figure out what worked for me.
• I never really thought about it (being a HC at his young age) - I was excited about what I was building at FIU. The fact that I'm sitting here right now is a dream come true.
• I believe this is one of the best jobs in college basketball.
• We're looking to get the right fit (for scholarships), we'll watch a lot of film over the next few days. We'll go out recruiting, and see if someone fits those needs.
• When you take over a program, you take it day by day. I'll take it one day at a time, that's the way you build a program. If these guys reach the goals, acting the right way, doing the things in the classroom, those things take care of themselves.
• I certainly embrace the fact that I'm young, I don't try to hide from it. I have great relationships with my players.
• I don't try to be Rick Pitino or Billy Donovan, I just try to be myself and embrace it.
• I think he said "are you crazy?" - we didn't need to talk much over, there wasn't much thinking.
• What do you look for in a coaching staff? When you build a staff, I want to have guys that are hopefully better than me. Live and die with this program. Recruiting is a very important piece to this. Guys that will work extremely hard.
• The practice facility will come, and when it does, it will be great. Right now, we have so much to sell at Minnesota. One of the best schools, arenas, etc. We'll sell what we have right now, and worry about what we don't have later.
• Everyone calls me different things, so whatever works for you.
• Do you view this as a final destination? That would be tremendous. This is absolutely the place I want to be. We hope to be here for the rest of our lives.
• It always takes time when you introduce a new style of play. Anytime you implement a whole new system, it will take some time.
• I'm looking forward to building a great staff, it's extremely important to me. We'll hopefully meet with some guys this weekend.
• Teague just got here 9 months ago, you're looking at one of the top AD's in the country, I have zero doubt in my mind that he'll get a practice facility done. We have enough to sell in Williams Arena right now.
• GH question - as one of the youngest coaches in the country, what challenges do you face. Every job is challenging. I'm very confident that I can walk into one of these homes, and sell a lot.
• I've met with the players earlier today, we spent about 15 minutes together. I'm looking forward to meeting with these guys individually. I haven't been able to do that too much just yet.
• I am very familiar with the quality of AAU basketball in this state, these kids are going to be well coached and well prepared at the college level. I'm excited to get out and meet these coaches better.
• I have not talked to Tubby about the job. I'm extremely excited to go head to head with my Dad, hopefully he fights fair. He's a legend, he's changed my life in so many ways, he's one of the best. If I'm not going against him, I'm hoping he's helping us.
• Our 1st game at FIU - we probably had 100 people there, and we continued to pack the place. I think they've only been around for 30 years, so they are really building. I was very fortunate to work there.
• I look at how excited I am to go against Big 10 teams. I watched IU play, that's extremely fast paced. I want to impose our style on other programs.
I would like to set up a home and home with Louisville, but I'll wait until he loses a few of those players!
