Pitino bypasses UNLV coaching question, son denies report

LOGAN, Utah — Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino downplayed interest in UNLV's job at a news conference today.

When asked about the subject by a Louisville reporter, Pitino reportedly said, "Next question, guys. Anybody have a basketball question about Florida State, I'd be glad to answer it, but please don't talk about job openings in January — or resumes."

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Saturday that Pitino was interested in the UNLV position. UNLV fired coach Dave Rice on Jan. 10, installing Todd Simon as the interim coach.

Pitino's son, Richard, was even more forceful in his comments regarding the job.

Richard Pitino, who coaches Minnesota, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune there was "zero truth" to the Review-Journal story. The R-J story also suggested Richard Pitino, a former assistant coach under his father, could be part of a package deal.

"Maybe he wants to do it, which I seriously, sincerely, 1,000-percent doubt," Richard Pitino said. "I read that and I was like, 'What?' But I don't want to go back to that. The thought of going to work for my dad again keeps me up at night."

Also, UNLV assistant coach Stacey Augmon caused a little bit of a stir with a cryptic tweet Monday night. The tweet shows a picture of Martin Luther King with the quote from the civil rights great that read: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

Augmon's comment read: "Coaching unlv matters I will talk soon."

He generally does not speak to the media, but maybe that changes following today's 6 p.m. game at Utah State. It's no secret he is unhappy about being passed over for the interim job.

Stay tuned.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65