Richard Pitino, the new coach of the Xavier Musketeers, had a brief but hilarious message after his father, St. Jon’s head coach Rick Pitino, appeared on a New York sports radio show.
This week, Rick Pitino jokingly said on WFAN that he would “give Richard a good spanking two times this year”, referencing the Johnnies and Musketeers’ matchups this season.
“Get Him”: Richard Pitino Eggs On Father-Son Banter Online
If a recent back-and-forth between legendary St. John’s coach Rick Pitino and his son, Xavier head coach Richard Pitino, is to be believed, their matchups this season will be remarkable.
The younger Pitino recently took over as Xavier’s head coach after guiding the Lobos of New Mexico, with his father’s encouragement. This means that the father and son will now be coaching together in the Big East.
Rick Pitino touched on that in a recent interview on WFAN Sports Radio shortly after throwing out the first pitch at the New York Yankees home game against the Cleveland Guardians, and took a shot at the Musketeers’ coach.
“I never spanked my children. But I’m gonna give (Richard) a good spanking two times this year”
😂😂 @RealPitino
🎧: @WFAN660 pic.twitter.com/A9ScIQszlF
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) June 5, 2025
“I always joke, and my son hates this joke, but I never, ever spanked any of my children. I’m going to give him a good spanking two times this year,” he said.
Richard Pitino soon spotted the joke and posted a quick message of his own on X.
Get him Xavier fans @RealPitino https://t.co/UGpmwzqtVZ
— Richard Pitino (@XUCoachPitino) June 5, 2025
“Get him, Xavier fans,” he wrote, directly tagging his father and jokingly “sending his fans” after his father.
The Red Storm and the Musketeers are set to play twice on the Big East regular schedule this season, which hasn’t been released yet. Rick Pitino is in his third year coaching the New York-based school and has sparked a complete culture change, with the team reaching the second round of the men’s tournament earlier this year.
RELATED: Analyst Breaks Down Rick Pitino, St. John’s’ Biggest Roadblock — And It Isn’t Lack of Point Guards
In their head-to-head matchups, Rick Pitino is 3-1 against Richard Pitino, with the last win taking place last November, when St. John’s beat New Mexico 85-71. That win was fueled by NBA Draft prospect RJ Luis’ 21 points and 11 rebounds.
All-time, Xavier leads St. John’s 17 wins to eight. The two programs first played in 2013, with the most recent matchup coming this past January.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
