University of Louisville Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino Set to Keynote TSNN Awards
August 26, 2012
The 3rd Annual TSNN Awards: Celebrating Trade Show Excellence, on tap Nov. 2-4 in Louisville, will feature a luncheon keynote given by legendary University of Louisville Cardinal’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino.
An accomplished coach and leader, Pitino is the first coach in NCAA history to take three different teams to the NCAA Final Four.
In 27 seasons as a collegiate head coach at five different schools, he has compiled a 629-234 record, a .729 winning percentage that ranks him 11th among active coaches.
His current contract ties him with U of L through the 2016-2017 season.
Pitino began coaching the U of L Cardinals for the 2001-2002 season, and by his second year there, he led the team to the No. 2 position in the AP poll and spent time as the nation’s top team in the RPI and Sagarin Ratings.
In the 2004-2005 season, Pitino guided his team into the Final Four for the first time since 1986 and during the next few seasons he reached the Final Eight twice and then the Final Four again in the 2011-12 season during which the team won 30 games and claimed the BIG EAST Tournament championship.
In his storied career, Pitino also coached the New York Knicks from 1987-89 and for three-and-a-half years, he served as president and head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics.
He also successfully coached several other collegiate teams, including the University of Kentucky to three NCAA Final Four appearances in his last five years there, winning the 1996 NCAA Championship and reaching the national title game in 1997.
Pitino got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Hawai'i in 1974 and served as a full-time assistant there in 1975-76 when he was the head coach for the last six games of the season (2-4) when the head coach was relieved of his duties.
From there, he never looked back, taking a head coaching job at Boston University in 1978 for five years before switching over to the Knicks and returning to college ball as head coach at Providence College for two seasons (1985-87).
Aside from his hoops prowess, Pitino has achieved success off the court as well in such realms as broadcasting, publishing, motivational speaking and horse racing.
He is an accomplished author, producing such books as the best seller "Success Is A Choice" and "Lead to Succeed."
Born Sept. 18, 1952, Pitino is a native of New York City, where he was a standout guard for Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, Long Island.
Pitino and wife Joanne have five children: Michael, Christopher, Richard, Ryan and Jacqueline; and four grandchildren: Anna, Audrey (Michael’s children), Andrew (Christopher) and Ava (Richard).
Pitino is one highlight of the TSNN Awards, a three-day celebration event for the fastest-growing trade shows in the United States.
Other event highlights include an opening reception 21C Museum Hotel, No. 1-ranked by Conde Nast, an executive conference the following day at the Kentucky International Convention Center, at which Pitino will be speaking, with the awards reception and gala that evening at the Downtown Louisville Marriott and brunch the next morning at Churchill Downs followed by a day of racing.
For more information or to sponsor please visit www.T-awards.com.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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