Rick Pitino calls out Michigan's pass/fail grading system

St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

'Don't get soft': Rick Pitino calls out Michigan's pass/fail grading system

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Aug 24, 2026 6:28 PM ET

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, who currently leads St. John's, recently posted about his disdain for Michigan's shift to a pass/fail system for liberal arts and sciences.

"This is to alleviate the pressure put on students," Pitino wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "What is happening to us? Pressure brings excellence. Don't get soft Michigan, it's not what you’re about."

Pitino noted that "two of my favorite universities for their academic and athletic excellence are Notre Dame & Michigan." Ironically, Notre Dame and Michigan are tied for the 20th-best university nationally, according to US News and World Report. Michigan is in the top three public universities nationally.

Pitino has 14 wins and eight losses all-time against Notre Dame and two victories and a pair of defeats versus Michigan. Notre Dame and Pitino were in the Big East together from 2005 through 2013, when he coached Louisville. Louisville and Notre Dame are both currently in the ACC.

Louisville defeated Michigan 82-76 in the 2013 NCAA Tournament Championship game. The Cardinals had to vacate their 2013 NCAA Championship due to players receiving impermissible benefits. Louisville is the only basketball program ever to have a national championship vacated.

Two of my favorite universities for their academic and athletic excellence are Notre Dame & Michigan. I just read Michigan is going to pass/fail for liberal arts and sciences for freshman year. This is to alleviate the pressure put on students. What is happening to us? Pressure…
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) August 23, 2026

Rick Pitino calls out Michigan for new grading system

Louisville dismissed Pitino after the 2016-17 season as a result of the Cardinals vacating their 2013 NCAA Championship. The scandal associated with the 2013 championship was one of a few during the 16 seasons that Pitino led Louisville. Pitino was also the head coach at Hawaii (interim), Boston University, Providence, the New York Knicks, Kentucky, the Boston Celtics, Panathinaikos (Greece) and Iona.

Beginning in fall 2027, Michigan's College of Literature, Science and the Arts freshmen will automatically be enrolled in the pilot pass/fail program and opting out is not an option. Grades will not be recorded on student transcripts or calculated into grade point averages.

Michigan is coming off of its second NCAA Championship after a dominant 2025-26 season. Head coach Dusty May left Michigan for the Dallas Mavericks after leading the Wolverines to the title. Former Michigan assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr. was elevated to head coach to replace May.

Alan Rubenstein

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