The St. John’s Red Storm men’s basketball team saw their season come to an unfortunate close on Thursday afternoon when the team fell to the top-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles in overtime of the Big East conference tournament. But there could be hope on the horizon in the form of head coach Rick Pitino.
According to a report from Zach Braziller of the New York Post, the team is expected to fire current head coach Mike Anderson, and current Iona Gaels head coach Rick Pitino is “believed to be a realistic candidate” to replace him.
“Indications are the school will part ways with Anderson despite four years and up to $10 million remaining on his contract. Iona College coach Rick Pitino is believed to be a realistic candidate. There is mutual interest between the two parties, according to sources. St. John’s president Rev. Brian Shanley nearly hired Pitino at Providence 12 years ago, prior to giving Ed Cooley the job, sources said,” Braziller wrote for the New York Post on Thursday.
Pitino has faced plenty of allegations and was involved in an alleged pay-for-play scandal during his time coaching the Louisville Cardinals, but he was cleared of wrongdoing by the NCAA back in November.
