Stress is why Rick Pitino says he wants to give up coaching, and he cited an iconic coach in college basketball's history as a reason.

Speaking to the Louisville Courier Journal during Friday night's Q&A event in Louisville, Pitino said the late Jim Valvano believed that the stress of an NCAA investigation in his North Carolina State's program contributed to his health problems.

"The reason I'm not going to coach is — I had an interesting discussion, and I told Bobby Valvano this," said Pitino, referencing Jim's brother, a broadcaster in Louisville. "Jimmy Valvano was going through some tough times with the NCAA, and he believed that the NCAA investigation into N.C. State broke down his immune system and he couldn't fight off the problems he was having because they just broke him down. The stress was just overwhelming."

Jim Valvano died in 1993 at age 47 after a fight with cancer.

He and N.C. State parted ways in 1990 after an NCAA investigation had placed the program on two-year probation "because of players selling complimentary tickets and athletic shoes," according to the Washington Post.

Pitino noted of coaching that, "If I went back into it, I'd have a lot of stress."

"I've had a lot of pressure in my life in games," Pitino said, "and pressure is the greatest thing that all of us can get. It makes us rise early, stay late, fight hard. ... But stress, I've had stress this past year and year and a half, and I want no part of it. I know what would happen if I got back into coaching, and I don't want that stress."

Pitino said he is planning to write a regular blog and launch a podcast. NBA coach Billy Donovan, who played for Pitino at Providence in the 1980s, is set to be on the debut podcast, said Pitino, who added that he is also trying to get Barack Obama as a guest.