Less than an hour after Chris Mack announced he would return to Charleston, CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein announced that Xavier will hire Richard Pitino Jr. as its next head coach.
Pitino, 42, has posted an 88-49 record over the last four seasons in turning New Mexico into one of the top programs in the Mountain West.
The Lobos finished 27-8 this season and beat Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 2 Michigan State Sunday night in Cleveland. New Mexico won the Mountain West tournament in 2024 and were regular season champions this year.