Louisville head coach Rick Pitino has a healthy résumé: two NCAA championships, two stints in the NBA, two national coach of the year honors -- the list is long and impressive. The boy from New York City has done well for himself.
Pitino has led the Cards to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive season, which includes a Final Four run in 2011-12 and the national championship the following season.
Like most successful coaches, Pitino's protégés also have flourished (maybe not in the Coach K, Dean Smith, Herb Sendek realm -- but close). In fact, four former Pitino assistant coaches and one former player led teams into NCAA postseason play this year:
Mick Cronin
Murray State (2003-06), Cincinnati (2006-present)
• Cronin was an assistant under Pitino at Louisville from 2001-03.
• Cincinnati lost to Kentucky 64-51 in the third round of the NCAA tournament.
Steve Masiello
Manhattan (2011-present)
• Masiello was an assistant under Pitino at Louisville from 2005-11.
• Manhattan lost to Hampton 74-64 in the First Four of the NCAA tournament.
Marvin Menzies
New Mexico State (2007-present)
• Menzies was an assistant under Pitino at Louisville from 2005-2007.
• New Mexico State lost to Kansas 75-56 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Travis Ford
Campbellsville (1997-2000), EKU (2000-05), UMass (2005-08), OK State (2008-current)
• Ford played for Kentucky (1991-94) during Pitino's UK tenure (1989-97).
• Oklahoma State lost to Oregon 79-73 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Scott Davenport
Bellarmine (2005-present)
• Davenport was an assistant under Pitino at Louisville from 2001-05.
• Bellarmine lost to Florida Southern 79-76 in the semifinals of the Division II tournament.
