When the University of Louisville went looking for its first new men's basketball coach in 30 years, it didn't just get the best person available. The Cardinals got arguably the best person, period.

Rick Pitino, one of the most brilliant minds in coaching, began a new era in University of Louisville men's basketball when he was named head coach of the Cardinals on March 21.

Pitino has embraced the storied tradition of Louisville Basketball and made a commitment to producing a vibrant program that will soon challenge for a national title.

In 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach at three different schools, Pitino has compiled a 352-124 record, a .739 winning percentage that ranks him sixth among active coaches and 17th all-time entering the 2001-02 season.

Among active coaches, Pitino has the third-highest winning percentage in NCAA Tournament games, winning 78.8 percent of his games in the post-season event with a 26-7 record in eight tournament appearances. He is one of just eleven coaches who have taken teams from two different schools to the NCAA Final Four. He is also one of 14 coaches all-time who have reached the Final Four on at least four occasions.

Only seven coaches all-time have taken more teams to the NCAA Final Four than Pitino's four appearances, a figure also matched by six other coaches.

Pitino's impact goes beyond the teaching, motivation and X's and O's of his on-the-court skills. His incredible charisma, tireless work ethic, captivating speaking skills and widespread appeal not only mesmerize the Cardinal faithful, but have the collegiate basketball world abuzz as well. His arrival in Louisville has generated incredible attention beyond the borders of the state he and his family have come to love.

Pitino is known for getting his players to believe in themselves, instilling the desire to succeed and driving his players to overachieve. His former players speak of their coach's caring nature beyond their basketball skills.

Despite taking over the Cardinal program in late March, the first U of L recruiting class Pitino assembled has earned national acclaim, ranking fifth by The Sporting News and 10th by ESPN.

For the last three and a half years, Pitino has served as president and head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. With the Celtics, he took over a team that had posted a franchise worst 15-67 record before his arrival. He quickly made an impact, improving the Celtics' victory total by 21 games in his first season. He resigned his position with the storied franchise on Jan. 8, 2001 after compiling a 102-146 record there.

He guided Kentucky to three NCAA Final Four appearances in his last five years at Kentucky, winning the 1996 NCAA Championship and reaching the national title game in 1997. In eight seasons with the Wildcats, he amassed a 219-50 record (.814) while winning two league crowns and an impressive 17-1 record in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

While at Kentucky, Pitino coached three Wildcats who earned All-America honors and eight players who were drafted by the NBA, including six in the first round (three lottery picks).

Pitino, 49, got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Hawai'i in 1974 and served as a full-time assistant there in 1975-76. He served two seasons as an assistant at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim from 1976-78.

Pitino was only 25 years old when he accepted his first head coaching job at Boston University in 1978. He produced a 91-51 record in five years there, departing as the most successful coach in BU history. In his final season there, he guided the Terriers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 24 years. He was twice named New England Coach of the Year (1979, 1983).

Pitino left Boston U. to become an assistant coach for the New York Knicks from 1983-85, where he worked with head coach Hubie Brown. It was a team he would return to lead as its head coach in two seasons.

He was head coach at Providence College for two seasons (1985-87), producing a 42-23 record there. He guided the Friars to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1986 and a trip to the NCAA Final Four in 1987, winning the regional championship in Louisville's Freedom Hall.

Before his stint at Kentucky, Pitino served as head coach of the New York Knicks for two seasons. In his initial year there in 1987-88, the Knicks improved by 14 victories and made the NBA Playoffs for the first time in four seasons. The Knicks won 52 games in 1988-89 and swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Aside from his hoops prowess, Pitino has achieved success off the court as well in such realms as broadcasting, publishing, motivational speaking and horse racing.

Pitino is an accomplished author, producing such books as the best seller "Success Is A Choice" and "Lead to Succeed."

He earned his degree at Massachusetts in 1974, where he captained the Minutemen's basketball team and played his freshman year with NBA legend Julius Erving. Pitino's 329 career assists ranks eighth all-time at UMass. His 168 assists as a senior is the sixth-best single season total ever at Massachusetts.

Born Sept. 18, 1952, Pitino is a native of New York City where he was a standout guard for Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, Long Island. There, he captained his team and established several school scoring marks.

Pitino and wife Joanne have five children: Michael, Christopher, Richard, Ryan and Jacqueline.

Pitino becomes the 18th Louisville head coach and just the fourth Cardinal coach in the last 57 years. He succeeds Denny Crum, who compiled a 675-295 record in 30 years at Louisville.

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