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Louisville head basketball coach Rick Pitino listens to a question during a press conference, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Louisville Ky. The University announced a one-year postseason ban for its men's basketball team amid ongoing investigations into a sex scandal in which an escort alleged that a former staffer paid her and other dancers to strip and have sex with recruits and players. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) ORG XMIT: KYTE109
lessLouisville head basketball coach Rick Pitino listens to a question during a press conference, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Louisville Ky. The University announced a one-year postseason ban for its men's basketball
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Louisville head coach Rick Pitino calls to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame at the Big East Conference tournament on Friday, March 15, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
lessLouisville head coach Rick Pitino calls to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame at the Big East Conference tournament on Friday, March 15, 2013, in New York. (AP
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File-This April 4, 2013 file photo shows Louisville head coach Rick Pitino speaking to the media during a news conference at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, in Atlanta. Pitino is once again studying video of Michael Jordan and John Stockton to learn from them. As in, knowing what to say and not say when the Louisville coach is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame on Sunday Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) ORG XMIT: NY166
lessFile-This April 4, 2013 file photo shows Louisville head coach Rick Pitino speaking to the media during a news conference at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, in Atlanta. Pitino is once
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LOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 22: Rick Pitino the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to his team during the game against the Missouir-Kansas City Kangaroos in the Billy Minardi Classic at KFC YUM! Center on December 22, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 585819531
lessLOUISVILLE, KY - DECEMBER 22: Rick Pitino the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to his team during the game against the Missouir-Kansas City Kangaroos in the Billy Minardi Classic at
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Siena men's basketball coach Jimmy Patsos holds a news conference at Lombardi, Walsh, Davenport, Amodeo law firm to address reports that he verbally abused a team manager on Friday, April 6, 2018 in Colonie, N.Y. Former team managers Wesley Douglas, left, and Robert Sherlock stand behind him. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
lessSiena men's basketball coach Jimmy Patsos holds a news conference at Lombardi, Walsh, Davenport, Amodeo law firm to address reports that he verbally abused a team manager on Friday, April 6, 2018 in Colonie,
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John D'Argenio, Siena College vice president and director of athletics, comments on the school's decision to part ways with coach Jimmy Patsos on Friday, April 13, 2018, during a press conference at Siena College in Colonie N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
lessJohn D'Argenio, Siena College vice president and director of athletics, comments on the school's decision to part ways with coach Jimmy Patsos on Friday, April 13, 2018, during a press conference at Siena
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View of the Siena Hall on Monday, April 9, 2018, on the College campus in Colonie N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
View of the Siena Hall on Monday, April 9, 2018, on the College campus in Colonie N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Photo: Will Waldron
People walk past the Marcelle Athletic Complex on the Siena College campus on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Colonie N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
People walk past the Marcelle Athletic Complex on the Siena College campus on Friday, April 13, 2018, in Colonie N.Y. (Will Waldron/Times Union)
Photo: Will Waldron, Albany Times Union
Pitino: Siena should look elsewhere in coaching search
Whether or not Rick Pitino is really interested in Siena, or vice versa, the Hall of Fame coach said Wednesday morning the Saints would be better off looking for another candidate to fill their men’s basketball coaching vacancy.
“It’s in Siena’s best interest to find someone else,” Pitino texted in response to being asked if he'd listen to the college if contacted.
Pitino fueled speculation a day earlier by calling the Times Union to defend his reputation and saying he’d like to return to the profession, though he never explicitly named Siena as a destination.
He was fired by Louisville in October with the program in an FBI corruption investigation.
Loudonville thoroughbred owner Roddy Valente, who is a partner with Pitino in the Kentucky Oaks contender Coach Rocks, got the ball rolling on Sunday when he said Pitino would be interested in discussing the Siena opening with college officials.
However, Valente texted late Tuesday that Pitino isn’t in the running for the job.
“I guess myself being selfish I looked forward to having Coach Pitino come to Siena College for the program & the area … unfortunately that will not be happening,” Valente texted. “Unfortunately wasn’t meant to be.”
Pitino said he hadn’t been in contact with Siena, even through a third party.
“I’ve not had any conversation with Siena at all and that’s what I’ve tried to explain to everybody,’’ Pitino said “It’s something that I’m not involved with.”
Pitino didn’t answer directly when asked if he would rule out any chance of being the next Siena head coach.
“If they had interest in me a long time ago, when this happened, they would already have been down in Miami (where Pitino lives), talking to me,’’ Pitino said. “That never happened, and I told everybody that, but nobody seems to want to believe that.”
msingelais@timesunion.com ■ 518-454-5509 ■ @MarkSingelais
https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Pitino-Siena-should-look-elsewhere-in-coaching-12844978.php
