The University of Rhode Island is denying a report from earlier today in which GoLocalProv claimed that AD Thorr Bjorn had come to an agreement with former Louisville head coach Rick Pitino to become URI’s next basketball coach. The report said that the deal, which would have paid Pitino $2 million per season, was eventually nixed by President David Dooley.
Shortly after the report surfaced, URI officials released the following statement:
“This story is false. University President David M. Dooley and Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn have not spoken with Rick Pitino. Athletic Director Bjorn never presented an offer to President Dooley related to Rick Pitino. The University takes journalistic integrity very seriously and denies the validity of this story in its entirety”
URI is expected to name a new coach as early as tomorrow. With Florida Gulf Coast head coach Joe Dooley apparently headed to East Carolina, at least three candidates remain – current URI associate head coach David Cox, Vermont’s John Becker, and Boston Celtics assistant Micah Shrewsberry.
