Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - The University of Louisville announced Tuesday that it has extended the contract of head basketball coach Rick Pitino through the 2021-2022 season.
Pitino, 60, was reported to have already signed his last extension, which was set to expire in 2016-17, but Louisville athletics director Tom Jurich thinks the veteran coach has a lot left in him.
"He might be 60, but he's going on 35, maybe even younger than that," Jurich said. "He's got an incredible amount of energy and he's worked extremely hard. We just love the direction this program is going. I'd really like to see him continue on as long as he possibly can."
Pitino has 27 years of head coaching experience at the collegiate level, including the last 11 in Louisville, where he has amassed a 275-106 record. His career winning percentage of .729 (629-234) ranks 11th among active collegiate coaches.
Last season, the Cardinals won the Big East Tournament and reached the Final Four -- the sixth time a Pitino-led team advanced that far in the NCAA Tournament.
Pitino was the first coach to take three different teams to the Final Four and helped Kentucky capture the 1996 national championship.
