Iona head basketball coach Rick Pitino has agreed to become the coach at St. John’s according to reports.
Pitino informed the Gaels he was leaving the program in a team meeting Monday afternoon, according to ESPN. The 70-year-old had been courted by St. John’s following the recent firing of head coach Mike Anderson.
Pitino’s deal with the Big East school seemed to be confirmed in a series of tweets posted on Monday.
“... I’m not sad it ended. I’m so grateful it happened,” Pitino tweeted.
He also added: “To my players, the last three years. All I can say is you know how much I love you.”
Pitino leaves Iona after getting the Gaels into two NCAA tournament appearances during his three-year tenure. He is the only coach to lead three schools to the Final Four (Louisville, Kentucky and Providence). Pitino has won two national champions — though his 2013 title with Louisville was vacated due to sex scandal.
