Byline: MICHAEL MADDEN The Boston Globe
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Hope returned to the storied Boston Celtics franchise Tuesday after a decade of despair. And, new coach Rick Pitino promised, championships will follow.
``I am able now to take on what I think is one of the greatest traditions in professional sports,'' said Pitino, ``and be part of those magical banners that have been hanging in the FleetCenter.''
The fact that those banners are in Boston -- a city beloved by Pitino -- and have been fraying through the 1990s as the Celtics spiraled into incompetence was the impetus for Pitino to leave what most consider the most prized position in college basketball: head coach of the University of Kentucky. But the challenge to revive Celtic basketball, as Pitino revived Kentucky basketball, proved too alluring to resist.
Pitino confirmed that his contract with the Celtics is for 10 years, six years apparently as head coach and the remainder in the front office. The new Boston coach denied that it was worth the reported $70 million, though. ``That's not true,'' he said. He is expected to earn $6 million-$7 million a year.
Pitino will have control of the basketball operations as well. The new coach said he would contact Larry Bird, who had been expected to be named coach of the Indiana Pacers for some $4 million a year, to see whether Bird had any interest in working with Pitino in the Celtics' front office.
Asked if he wanted Bird on the new Celtic team, Pitino said, ``Very much so. Larry has got to find out himself if he wants to be coach or management.''
Jim O'Brien, a longtime Pitino assistant (not the former Boston College coach), and Winston Bennett, another Kentucky assistant, will come to Boston with Pitino. Sources in Kentucky said Ralph Willard, the head coach at Pittsburgh, also might be considered by Pitino as an assistant.
The fate of the assistant coaches under deposed Celtics coach M.L. Carr -- John Kuester, K.C. Jones, and Dennis Johnson -- was not addressed Tuesday (one, Kuester, was hired by Pitino when Pitino was head coach at Boston University).
In deference to Kentucky, Pitino said, he would be more specific about the changes when he is reintroduced in Boston today.
Eddie Jamiel, the Kentucky trainer, is also expected to come to Boston, as is strength and conditioning coach Shaun Brown. The Celtics have dismissed trainer Ed Lacerte.
``I'm looking forward to taking on this challenge and I know it's a monster challenge,'' said Pitino, who inherits a team that had the second-worst record in the NBA this season. ``I can't wait to get started. I believe it will be turned around. It will take a lot of hard work, but it's no different from Kentucky, the Knicks, Providence, Boston U. It's the same formula.''
Hard work and defense are the main ingredients of that formula.
``We need to get that pride back,'' Pitino said. ``We are going to win. The Boston Celtics will play very hard and will play defense as hard as it's been played.'
A sea of satellite TV trucks circled Memorial Coliseum on the Kentucky campus Tuesday afternoon as Pitino, 44, gave the word that dashed the hopes of Kentucky, where he is an icon. College basketball analyst Dick Vitale had called Tuesday, pleading for him not to leave.
CAPTION(S):
Associated Press/BRECK SMITHER RICK PITINO ANNOUNCES TUESDAY in Lexington, Ky., that he is leaving Kentucky to coach the Boston Celtics.
