University of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino has been with the Cardinals since 2001. Since his arrival, he has led Louisville to two Final Four appearances, including last year’s match up in New Orleans against Kentucky.

By Noah Allison–

U of L has been blessed enough to only know two men’s basketball coaches in the past forty years. Current head coach Rick Pitino has been here since 2001 and has recently signed a contract extension that will keep him coaching U of L through 2022.

“I don’t know if I could live without basketball,” Pitino said.

Many feared that Pitino, who is 60 years old, would retire at the end of his former contract in 2017. However, Pitino realized that five more years of coaching was too hard to pass up.

“Look, let’s face it, I don’t want to die tomorrow. I hope I live a long life, but there is nothing given in life,” Pitino said. “You could say, ‘Well, ten years sounds great,’ but there is nothing given. I just try to learn every day. I live every day as if it’s my last, but it really is true. I see so many families around that go through tough times, so I really don’t put too much stock in a ten-year contract.”

Pitino has taken the Cardinals to two final four appearances since becoming the head coach and currently has U of L ranked preseason No. 2.

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Photo: Nathan Gardner/The Louisville Cardinal