Rick Pitino is back in the Big East Conference.
Big East reporter John Fanta tweeted on Friday night that the St. John’s Red Storm intend to hire the Hall of Fame men’s basketball coach.
“NEW: St. John’s intends to finalize a deal with Rick Pitino to hire the Hall of Famer as its next head coach, sources tell FOX Sports,” Fanta tweeted.
NEW: St. John's intends to finalize a deal with Rick Pitino to hire the Hall of Famer as its next head coach, sources tell FOX Sports.
My story: https://t.co/9tILHTkAnK
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 18, 2023
In the report, Fanta writes, “Sources close to the program tell FOX Sports that the university plans to finalize a deal with the Hall of Famer in the coming days. It has been reported that Pitino has a mutual interest in taking over the Red Storm.”
Pitino has been great in the Big East before. He won three Big East Tournament championships in 2009, 2012, and 2013. The Cardinals won the Big East regular season championships in 2009 and 2013. 2012 and 2013’s tournament titles and the 2013 regular-season title might have been vacated. But, you saw them, you know they happened, and you know how good of a coach Rick Pitino is.
St. John’s hasn’t been to the Big East Tournament semifinals since 2000. They have sporadically made the NCAA Tournament a couple times in the 2010s, but failed to make any significant marks. They haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since defeating Northern Arizona in the 2000 Round of 64.
Obviously, the program hopes that by hiring Pitino, that changes. Pitino has shown recent success in the current game as he’s led the Iona Gales to two regular-season MAAC championships and one MAAC tournament title.
While March Madness tantalizes everyone, the CBB world still had plenty to say about the big news.
Fanta bomb
— Patrick (@patrickksl) March 18, 2023
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) March 18, 2023
So as of today the Big East coaching lineup is:
Thad Matta
Rick Pitino
Sean Miller
Shaka Smart
Dan Hurley
Ed Cooley
Shaheen Holloway
Greg McDermott
Kyle Neptune
Tony Stubblefield
Georgetown: TBDI mean…wow. Definitely no shortage of head coaching in the Big East. What a lineup https://t.co/ApAv6VagBu
— Butler Basketball Guru (@ButlerGuru) March 18, 2023
Wow @AdamJBaum you ready for Pitino in The Garden? https://t.co/WOd9ybmO11
— Jason Hoffman (@JHoffinCincy) March 18, 2023
LET’S GO!!!! https://t.co/sqfExeCAiQ
— Paige H. (@paiges_502) March 18, 2023
That was quick. Was the contract in the Iona locker room? https://t.co/0Lu0V9KExw
— Banners on the Parkway (@BannersParkway) March 18, 2023
Great hire, will be fun to watch. Schedule St Johns in Rupp so Pitino can coach one more time there *not* as Louisville's coach https://t.co/e71wkKTAkv
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) March 18, 2023
I kept screaming Pitino to St. John’s and the Iona fans didn’t like it very much https://t.co/p9qCkv7ICL
— Zach the UConn fan (@UConn_BleedBlue) March 18, 2023
He will coach in Carnesecca Arena https://t.co/44vBAUVpmr
— Connor Hope (@HoopsHopeCBB) March 18, 2023
The Iona game has been over for 2 minutes https://t.co/15ZPEm3ULv
— Melissa Luck ☘ (@MelissaKXLY4) March 18, 2023
St. John’s did the right thing!!! https://t.co/IOYkkdXsPH pic.twitter.com/4cgggfx1rd
— Puneet (@puneetsingh) March 18, 2023
Big East powering up. https://t.co/mrljE6wbVA
— tcf15 (@tcf_15) March 18, 2023
Rick Pitino back in the Big East 🍿 https://t.co/Ped42sui2L
— Giants Daily (@NYGDaily) March 18, 2023
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1636888589643534341
