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Rick Pitino reminisces about nearly being hired as Michigan's basketball coach

The Louisville head coach spoke on Wednesday about his broken agreement to coach the Michigan Wolverines.

By Jordan Sargent
Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE

Rick Pitino has had a career renaissance as the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals, but on Wednesday he talked to Sirius XM's "Basketball and Beyond" show about a time in the early 2000s when he had an agreement to become the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

Pitino told the show that he had decided to become the head coach at Michigan before his wife challenged him, saying that he was afraid to go back and coach in Kentucky after leaving the Kentucky Wildcats for the NBA. That, Pitino said, is what pushed him to spurn Michigan in favor of Louisville.

Instead of landing Pitino, Michigan hired Tommy Amaker, who lasted six seasons in Ann Arbor before being fired. Pitino says that he is "really happy" that he ended up at Louisville. In 11 seasons there, Pitino has won 262 games and gone to the Final Four twice, including in this past season.