Louisville coach Rick Pitino on Wednesday asked Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard to join his staff as an assistant. According to ESPN sources, Willard is expected to give an answer by June 10.
The coaches have been friends since high school, and Willard has worked under Pitino in two different occasions: once with the New York Knicks and again at Kentucky. Following head-coaching gigs at Western Kentucky and Pittsburgh, Willard was hired at Holy Cross and has remained there for 10 years.
Pitino is looking to replace his son, Richard, who left Louisville in April to work for Billy Donovan at Florida.
“Yes, I have offered the position to Ralph,” Pitino said in a statement released by Louisville. “I’ve also offered the last four openings we’ve had at Louisville to Ralph because he’s always my number one choice. I do it every time and it’s nothing new. I fully expect him to turn me down for the fifth straight time.”
