Brad Stevens the next coach of the Boston Celtics, as one of the NBA’s legendary programs makes a surprising pick.

The question is whether the new job takes him out of the discussion for the University of Louisville post when Rick Pitino retires down the road. His name always comes up when a Pitino team enters a down period.

Stevens will have some major challenges ahead of him at Boston with the Celtics having traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Piece to Brooklyn for three players and three first-round draft picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Rumors abound that Rajon Rhondo will be on the trading block. No one expects a team facing a major rebuilding effort to be a contender anytime soon.

Whether Boston fans can wait around for two or three years for a winner remains to be seen. Fans accustomed to winning can run out of patience quickly, as Pitino discovered during his days at Boston.

Meanwhile, young Richard Pitino, fresh from compiling an 18-14 record during his one and only year at Florida International University, is on his way to the University of Minnesota, adding a Big Ten program to his resume.

There may or may not have been anything to the rumors a few years ago that young Richard would some day succeed his dad at UofL.

At any rate, their progress will be watched closely by Cardinal fans over the next several years.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.