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Lobo coach Richard Pitino tests positive for COVID, will miss Saturday game

UNM Lobo basketball coach Richard Pitino will not be on the sideline for Saturday night’s Lobo basketball game against Utah State after testing positive for COVID-19.

As of early afternoon Saturday, the game was still on as no other players or staff in the Lobo program had tested positive.

The Journal has learned Pitino took a COVID test on his own independent of the team once he started feeling symptoms. He had been with the team as recently as Friday.

The entire Lobo basketball team and coaching staff has been vaccinated, UNM has reported.

Assistant coach Eric Brown will step to coach Saturday’s Mountain West Conference home opener between the Lobos (7-7, 0-1 Mountain West) and the Aggies (9-5, 0-1).