Rick Pitino Scared: Confetti Surprised Louisville Coach After NCAA Win (Video)

Louisville head basketball coach Rick Pitino was so overwhelmed after the Cardinals won the NCAA Championship Monday night, the celebratory confetti canons scared him half to death.

Pitino, who made history as the first coach to win a national championship at two different schools (he led the University of Kentucky to the title in 1996), and the Cardinals beat Michigan 82-76 in Atlanta Monday, the same day he was announced as a member of the latest Hall of Fame class.

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News of Pitino's victory erupted online Monday night and was still going strong Tuesday, but what was on everyone's mind wasn’t the game, but the coach's reaction to the post-win confetti canons. Television cameras caught him quickly ducking as the loud bang resonated though the arena.

Did anyone else notice the moment of terror on Rick Pitino's face when the confetti guns shot off? Straight up ducked and covered

— The Garden of Adam(@prahSmadA) April 9, 2013

Did Rick think someone was shooting at him?

— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) April 9, 2013

This makes me want to know more about the neighborhood Rick Pitino grew up in huff.to/14Tp1AX

— Chris Dimino (@chrisdimino) April 9, 2013

Anyone else think Rick Pitino needed a change of underwear after the confetti cannon went off after last nights win? bit.ly/10PeO4e

— CoreyRadio (@CoreyRadio) April 9, 2013

Rick Pitino thought he got shot right after the game. Calm down Rick, the confetti won't hurt you!

— Jake DJX Radio (@JakeDJXRadio) April 9, 2013

Those confetti explosions momentarily turned Rick Pitino into Ray Liotta from Goodfellas. #NCAA

— My Quite (@THEmikewhite) April 9, 2013

"That awkward moment when Rick Pitino takes cover from the sound of the confetti gun, bc he lives in Louisville." 😂 #brilliance

— Halee Johnston (@HaleeJohnston) April 9, 2013

Coming off the tragedy of sophomore guard Kevin Ware's horrific leg fracture two weeks ago, the Cardinals managed to turn it around and win the national championship for the first time since 1986.

Ware, who had surgery to insert a steel rod into his right tibia, attended the game. Afterwards, officials lowered the basket so the injured player could cut a strand out of the net.

"These are my brothers," Ware told reporters. "They got the job done. I'm so proud of them, so proud of them."





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