As speculation intensifies that St. John’s will hire Rick Pitino, the legendary basketball coach is visiting the university to meet with top officials.
The New York Post reported Sunday afternoon that the 70-year-old Pitino “has been the sole focus of the Johnnies’ coaching search since parting ways with Mike Anderson nine days ago.”
According to the report, Pitino wanted to meet “those in charge” and tour the school and basketball facilities Sunday night before reaching an agreement.
Pitino, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, remains the only coach to win NCAA basketball titles at two schools, Kentucky and Louisville. His other coaching stops included head coaching stints in the NBA with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Most recently, he’s coached the Iona Gaels to a pair of MAAC regular-season titles and two conference tournament championships in the last three years.
The Red Storm finished 18-15 this season and have posted only one winning season in Big East Conference play in the past eight seasons.
The college basketball world is intrigued by Pitino’s reported move St. John’s.
Rick Pitino has all the leverage here. Can ask for big salary, big budget for assistant coaches, any upgrades he wants to the program. Pitino is Plan A for St. John's. And Plan B. https://t.co/uagtbJjiUT
— Lori Rubinson (@LRubinson) March 19, 2023
Sources: Iona’s Rick Pitino will meet with St. John’s administration in person later tonight.
The Red Storm have no secondary candidate.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 19, 2023
I predict Pitino will take the St Johns job tonight- I feel that St Johns will give Pitino whatever he wants to seal the deal- $5-6 million a year
— Michael Glennan (@MichaelGlennan7) March 19, 2023
Ricky P back in the big east watch out for St. John’s!
— Peja Johnson (@JohnsonPeja) March 19, 2023
A match made in heaven..
— Edward (@Edward22J) March 19, 2023
If St John’s hires Rick Pitino, billionaire alum Mike Repole plans to get back involved helping the program financially. In the NIL era, this would be a significant development: https://t.co/fg9HxsakFL #sjubb pic.twitter.com/2RH7iZwRbx
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) March 19, 2023
