Re: Donovan Taking Magic Job??

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Donovan Taking Magic Job??

I know, I just felt it was only fair to point that out. Even now, people only really remember Pitino's failed experiment with the Boston Celtics, and hold that up as the classic case of "college coach can't make it in the pros". After that magical run with Providence, Pitino took the Knicks job, and I believe he barely missed the playoffs in his first year, then made it to the conference semis the next two years... Pretty good.

Correction: he was only there two years (for some reason it seemed longer)

Coached the New York Knicks for the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons, leading the team to the Atlantic Division title in his second year (the Knicks won only 24 games the year before he arrived, finishing 35 games behind the Celtics) . . . Their 52-30 record in '88-89 was their best since 1983-84 (47-35), when Pitino was an assistant under Hubie Brown (1983-85).

[heitkamp94]

Re: Donovan Taking Magic Job??

I know, I just felt it was only fair to point that out. Even now, people only really remember Pitino's failed experiment with the Boston Celtics, and hold that up as the classic case of "college coach can't make it in the pros". After that magical run with Providence, Pitino took the Knicks job, and I believe he barely missed the playoffs in his first year, then made it to the conference semis the next two years... Pretty good.

Correction: he was only there two years (for some reason it seemed longer)

You quote makes a good point, that Pitino was an assistant under Hubie Brown. That means he did have some prior NBA coaching experience even if it was as an assistant which definately was a plus for him.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: Donovan Taking Magic Job??

You quote makes a good point, that Pitino was an assistant under Hubie Brown. That means he did have some prior NBA coaching experience even if it was as an assistant which definately was a plus for him.

Yeah, I didn't know he had pro experience. So that would just show how hard it is for a college only coach to make headway. To me, if you're hiring, you're better off w/an unknown pro assistant than a college genius.