Uncertainty at Panathinaikos with Pitino moving back to USA 

With Rick Pitino having recently penned a deal with the Iona Gaels, there is uncertainty at Panathinaikos concerning the position of head coach.

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Pitino has decided to make his grand return to the sport in the USA. Recently, the American coach secured a deal with the Iona Gaels of the NCAA, with the contract set to begin at the start of the new college basketball season. The 67-year-old Panathinaikos boss returned to the United States last week to be with his family after the coronavirus pandemic halted the EuroLeague and Basket League seasons.

Nevertheless, despite the news, Pitino has promised to continue coaching Panathinaikos until the 2019/2020 season ends: “I'm going to fulfill my commitments, we’re in sixth place of the EuroLeague as we fight for a playoff spot,” stated Pitino when speaking to ESPN. “I’m still going to coach the Greek national team too, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be in the side. Coaching Iona? It’s the perfect way for me to end a long coaching career. It matches the values I have away from the court. I'm super excited about it.”

Panathinaikos are yet to make any kind of comment concerning the latest developments. Initially, Pitino was meant to stay at Panathinaikos for two seasons after returning in late 2019 to replace Argyris Pedoulakis, but there was a clause which would allow him to leave if he wished. Pitino does want to complete the current EuroLeague campaign with Panathinaikos and steer the Athenians into the playoffs.

However, there is a chance that assistant coach, Giorgos Vovoras, will manage Panathinaikos when the season restarts. This would consequently mean that Pitino has already coached his last game at the Panathinaikos helm.

Panathinaikos supremo, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, has previously expressed his belief that Vovoras is capable of coaching the team on a permanent basis. Pitino himself has also recommended that Vovoras is hired as a head coach rather than just an assistant.

In terms of next season, Panathinaikos would like to hire either Zeljko Obradovic or Sarunas Jasikevicius as a replacement for Pitino, however it is highly unlikely that such an outcome is possible. Ideally, Jasikevicius would be the perfect option for Panathinaikos, however the Zalgiris manager is expected to either move into the NBA or begin coaching a EuroLeague club which boasts a large budget.

Panathinaikos, the reigning Greek champions, are leading the Basket League while occupying sixth position of the EuroLeague regular season. Pitino first coached Panathinaikos during the second half of the 2018/2019 campaign.

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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