Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001 | 10:37 a.m.
Rick Pitino says the UNLV coaching job is "the only opening in college basketball."
Rebels coach Max Good would surely disagree, having coached the team to seven wins in a row.
But regardless that Good wasn't labeled an interim coach after replacing Bill Bayno on Dec. 12, his contract expires after the season and national perception is that he's keeping the seat warm for the next guy.
Pitino has confirmed that UNLV's campaign to make him that guy is under way.
"I had a phone conversation with UNLV," Pitino told the Boston Globe in Miami, where he's relaxing after resigning as the Celtics' coach and president Monday.
Pitino said the conversation took place before his resignation, but didn't specify whether he had talked with a UNLV official or booster. Desert Inn owner Steve Wynn won't confirm nor deny meeting with Pitino in Boston nor even speaking to him about the Rebels' job.
Attempts to contact Pitino on Tuesday were unsuccessful, but an associate says he will consider UNLV and any number of suitors, now including UCLA. But before he makes a decision, Pitino plans to recover from his draining 3 1/2-year tenure with the Celtics, he told the Globe.
"I basically told (UNLV) that I am going to take some time off, then I'm going to look at some situations," Pitino said. "Pretty much that's it.
"There's no openings other than UNLV. That is the only opening in college basketball. There has been no contact with anybody other than UNLV."
That's not necessarily true. UCLA athletic director Pete Dalis revealed Tuesday he had spoken twice with Pitino in December, though he didn't tell coach Steve Lavin.
"I felt it would be valuable to talk to somebody who at some point could be a candidate," Dalis told the L.A. Daily News. "There has never been any negotiations whatsoever. They were two friendly, brief conversations that probably didn't last more than five minutes."
Lavin, who has a five-year rollover contract, learned about the meetings from the media. He wasn't convinced that the meetings were harmless.
"When you put it all together, it's a little disheartening," Lavin said. "I don't know what the plans are -- if Rick Pitino is going to be the coach this year or next year."
Later, an angry Lavin said, "I think Pitino is an opportunist. He's trying to capitalize on a tremendous opportunity. I'm sure if he is having conversations with the athletic director, he feels he has a chance to get the job."
In addition, Michigan boosters are said to have contacted Pitino, anticipating Brian Ellerbe's dismissal, and openings are also possible at colleges like Indiana, St. John's, Kentucky and UMass after the season.
In an ESPN.com poll conducted Monday and Tuesday, UNLV placed fifth among eight choices when fans were asked: Where would you like to see Rick Pitino coach next?
After 51,608 votes, Indiana was first with 22.1 percent, followed by Kentucky with 18.1, Michigan 15.5, UCLA 12.6, UNLV 11.0, UMass 8.1, another NBA team 7.4 and St. John's 4.8.
Pitino said it is "very unlikely" he would continue in the NBA, and there has already been much speculation about his college preferences. Some say his wife Joanne would prefer a big city, as opposed to a "college town," but that has not been documented, and Pitino downplayed location.
"What I'm going to place my emphasis on is a number of factors -- the potential to win, the potential to develop, and the potential to make a strong imprint on the program," he said. "I absolutely do not care about other factors. Location doesn't matter. The ability to win is going to be the most important thing to me. Everything else is secondary.
"I know where I'm going to derive my basketball happiness and that's from playing hard and winning. If I can build character and commitment, that is all I am interested in at this stage in my life."
Though Pitino plans to start studying high school sophomores and juniors to prepare for college recruiting, he is admittedly weary from his Celtics experience, the only blot on a coaching resume that includes a 1996 NCAA championship at Kentucky.
"I do not have an inkling (where I will be next season), nor do I choose to have an inkling at this stage," he said.
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