Richard Pitino, New Mexico Lobos
Richard Pitino enters the mix with a few South Florida connections. Pitino jump-started his head coaching career at FIU, just 30 minutes west of Coral Gables. He spent one season with the Panthers, leading FIU to an 18-15 record before leading Minnesota. He also spent time under Billy Donovan at Florida from 2009-2011.
Additionally, Pitino interviewed for the University of South Florida's vacant position in 2023. He turned down an offer reportedly worth $1.8 million, according to Yahoo Sports.
Pitino, still only 42 years old, has done solid work as a head coach. Despite a rather underwhelming eight-year tenure at Minnesota, Pitino did take Minnesota to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Now at New Mexico, Pitino rebuilt a program struggling to recapture its magic from the Steve Alford era and took the Lobos to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years in 2024.
Anthony Grant, Dayton Flyers
Another coach with connections to the Sunshine State is Dayton Flyers HC Anthony Grant. Grant is a Miami native and graduated high school from Miami Senior High School.
Grant, who spent time as an assistant high school coach in Miami, hails from the Billy Donovan coaching tree, joining forces with Donovan from 1994 to 2006 at Marshall and Florida.
Now at Dayton after stops at VCU and Alabama, Grant has made the Flyers a staple in the top half of the A10. An improbable 29-2 (18-0) season that was cut short due to the COVID-19 Pandemic leaves many painstaking what-ifs but if one thing is clear, it's that the Flyers were capable of winning six games in three weekends -- which speak volumes on Grant’s coaching acumen.
Leaving your alma mater is never easy. Yet Miami has the resources to win. And win quickly. Can it be enough to lure Anthony Grant back home?