Rick Pitino won't be leaving Iona to coach the Maryland Terrapins after all.
The Sports Junkies reported on Wednesday that Maryland basketball was "heavily pursuing" Pitino to lead its program after moving on from Mark Turgeon in December.
"We're not saying Rick is the guy [yet]," Junkies host Jason Bishop specified. "We're just saying that Maryland really likes Pitino. He's their top dog."
The 69-year-old basketball coach — in the midst of a 24-5 season with the Gaels — announced on Thursday that he will not be taking the Maryland job.
"The University of Maryland is one of the premier institutions of higher learning," Pitino wrote on Twitter. "It's basketball program can be among the nation's best. I hope they find the next great Gary Williams. I love coaching at Iona, and I'm totally committed to my players. It will not be me."
Eric Bickel of The Sports Junkies responded by saying the details of their reporting are still accurate, that Maryland boosters were "pushing HARD" to land Pitino.
Pitino said in January his goal was to finish his career at Iona but didn't rule out the possibility of taking another job, either in the NBA or elsewhere in college basketball.
"My goal is to finish my career at Iona," Pitino told Zach Brazillier of the New York Post at the time. "That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t entertain to be an NBA coach again. I can't say (I won't coach at another college), because then you look like a liar if you ever do. My total motive is to stay here. I'm a New Yorker. I want to end my career in New York. I live in a place I want to live. But you never know. As long as they have the same goals I have, I have no reason to leave. (They want) to make it better and better and better."
In February, it was reported that Iona and Pitino were working towards a lifetime contract.
Pitino is currently in his second season coaching Iona (36-11), his first coaching stop since being fired from Louisville in 2017. Pitino spent 16 seasons at Louisville, coaching them to a 416-143 (.744) record and winning a national championship in 2013 (later vacated). He also won a national championship with Kentucky in 1996.
Pitino led the Gaels to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first season in 2021, losing to Alabama in the first round. He currently ranks 11th all time in career wins (806) at the college level, behind Kentucky's John Calipari (808).
Danny Manning has served as Maryland's interim coach since the school and Mark Turgeon mutually agreed to part ways in early December after a 5-3 start to the season, his 11th with the program. The Terps are 10-12 under Manning. Maryland is 15-15 overall on the season and 7-12 in Big Ten conference play.