New Mexico

Is Richard Pitino related to Rick Pitino? Everything to know of New Mexico, St. John’s coaches

Published

10 months ago

March 23, 2025

Is Richard Pitino related to Rick Pitino? Everything to know of New Mexico, St. John’s coaches

While legendary coach Rick Pitino and St. John’s were eliminated from the men’s NCAA Tournament with a loss to Arkansas in the second round on Saturday, it’s not the end of the Pitino name in 2025.

Rick Pitino’s son, Richard Pitino, is looking to be the only double-digit seed to reach the Sweet 16 as the head coach of New Mexico. The 10-seed Lobos are hoping to upset 2-seed Michigan State.

Richard Pitino has actually been coaching for quite some time now, as the 42-year-old coach was also the head coach of FIU from 2012-13 before coaching Minnesota for eight seasons. Richard Pitino has been with New Mexico since 2021 and has led the Lobos to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.

New Mexico defeated Marquette 75-66 in the first round, and Richard Pitino is looking to advance a round further than his dad in 2025.

Here’s everything to know about the father-and-son coaches in the NCAA Tournament:

Are Rick and Richard Pitino related?

Yes, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino and New Mexico coach Richard Pitino are related, as Rick Pitino is Richard Pitino’s father, if it wasn’t obvious by the coaching chops and similar names.

Rick Pitino was also in attendance for the Lobos’ second-round game against Michigan State on Sunday night.

Richard Pitino was an assistant under his father in two different stints at Louisville, serving as an assistant coach from 2007-09 and later as the Cardinals’ associate head coach from 2011-12. In between he served as an assistant coach under Billy Donovan at Florida from 2009-11.

Richard Pitino coaching record

Here’s a look at Richard Pitino’s year-by-year record in college basketball:

2012-13 (FIU): 18-14
2013-14 (Minnesota): 25-13 (NIT Champions)
2014-15 (Minnesota): 18-15
2015-16 (Minnesota): 8-23
2016-17 (Minnesota): 24-10 (NCAA Tournament Round of 64)
2017-18 (Minnesota): 15-17
2018-19 (Minnesota): 22-14 (NCAA Tournament Round of 32)
2019-20 (Minnesota): 15-16
2020-21 (Minnesota): 14-15
2021-22 (New Mexico): 13-19
2022-23 (New Mexico): 22-12 (NIT first round)
2023-24 (New Mexico): 26-10 (NCAA Tournament first round)
2024-25 (New Mexico): 27-7

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New Mexico

Fourth Republican candidate announces bid for New Mexico governor

Published

4 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Fourth Republican candidate announces bid for New Mexico governor

SANTA FE, N.M. — Former New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison is running for governor as a Republican, he announced on social media Tuesday.

Ellison is running on affordability, opportunity and trust in government as the key points of his campaign. His experience includes serving on the NMPRC in 2023 and 2024.

“New Mexico deserves leadership that listens, acts, and delivers results. Our state has enormous potential, but too often that potential is held back by policies that don’t serve everyday New Mexicans,” he said on his website. “I’m running to bring practical solutions, honest accountability, and a renewed focus on the public interest.”

A Georgia native, Ellison has lived in New Mexico for 20 years and currently lives in the Albuquerque area with his wife and two children.

Ellison is aiming to get 5,000 signatures by Feb. 2, to appear on the primary ballot with at least three other Republicans who have announced their candidacy.

Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez announced his campaign in December and recently confirmed to KOB 4 that he received enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and New Mexico State Sen. Steve Lanier are also running.

Three Democrats are running – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.

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New Mexico

Independent governor’s race hopeful sues over New Mexico’s ballot process

Published

17 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Independent governor’s race hopeful sues over New Mexico’s ballot process

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New Mexico

New Mexico Lobo players and coaches make moves after successful season, AD departure

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

New Mexico Lobo players and coaches make moves after successful season, AD departure

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.

The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.

Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.

Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.

Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.

Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.

Others set to leave include:

Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver

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