Iona coach Rick Pitino has agreed to a six-year deal with St. John’s to become the program’s next men’s basketball coach, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Adrian Wojnarowski. The financial details of the agreement haven’t been reported at this time.
The news comes after an earlier ESPN report from late Sunday night stated Pitino had met with St. John’s officials after Iona was eliminated from the NCAA tournament. At the reported meeting, Pitino explained his potential vision for the Red Storm and inquired about the school’s commitment to his lofty expectations—competing for Big East and national titles.
It appears the conversation went well, as both sides are moving forward with the agreement. In three seasons at Iona, he led the Gaels to two NCAA tournament appearances.
Pitino was the Red Storm’s primary target ever since it fired coach Mike Anderson on March 10. However, St. John’s was not allowed to speak with Pitino formally until the Gaels lost in the NCAA tournament. Iona was eliminated by UConn on Friday in the first round of the tournament.
The move comes as Anderson reportedly plans to sue St. John’s for wrongful termination.
After the hiring was reported, Pitino expressed his thanks to Iona in a series of tweets.
Pitino has guided three different programs—Providence, Kentucky and Louisville—to seven total Final Fours and won national titles with the Wildcats and Cardinals. Meanwhile, St. John’s has only reached two Final Fours in its entire history. The 70-year-old has a track record for turning programs around and could be poised to do the same for the Red Storm.
