Rick Pitino agrees to six-year deal to become St. John’s head coach

Rick Pitino has agreed to become St. John’s head coach, the school announced.

Pitino informed Iona he was leaving the program in a team meeting Monday afternoon and agreed to the six-year deal with the Red Storm, according to ESPN. The 70-year-old coach had been courted by St. John’s following the recent firing of head coach Mike Anderson.

“One of my great coaching memories was having the distinct privilege of coaching against Lou Carnesecca and St John’s, a Hall of Fame coach and historic program that I have always respected,” said Pitino. “It is surreal to now have this opportunity to bring St John’s back to prominence. I’m honored, humbled and grateful to Fr. Shanley, Bill Janetschek and Mike Cragg for making me feel so special.”

Pitino will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. Pitino’s deal, which the school didn’t disclose, with the Big East school were 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.”

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Pitino leaves Iona after getting the Gaels into two NCAA tournament appearances during his three-year tenure. He went 64-22 during his time at the program. He is the only coach to lead three schools to the Final Four (Louisville, Kentucky and Providence). Pitino has won two national championships — though his 2013 title with Louisville was vacated due to sex scandal.

In 2017, Pitino was charged with failure to monitor the Cardinals program after being investigated for hiring escorts to perform for recruits. Pitino was fired in October 2017 and the NCAA vacated the 2013 title alongside dozens of victories from the school. The coach didn’t receive any sanctions from the NCAA following the investigation.

Pitino’s arrival at St. John’s seemed imminent.

The coach didn’t deny his interest in joining the Red Storm when asked about the job before the Gaels’ March Madness first-round loss to UCONN last weekend. Following the loss, Pitino spent the weekend meeting with St. John’s officials, according to the Athletic.

The former Louisville coach joins a Red Storm program that failed to reach the NCAA tournament in all of the four seasons during Anderson’s tenure. Anderson finished with a 68-56 record with the Red Storm and suffered a heartbreaking defeat in his final game: a two-point Big East tournament loss against Marquette in the quarterfinals on March 9.

“After fully evaluating the men’s basketball program, our University has decided a change is needed in both the leadership and direction of St. John’s Basketball,” St. John’s athletic director Cragg said in a statement at the time. “We wish Coach Mike Anderson and his family the best in their future.”

Anderson said he will file an arbitration lawsuit against St. John’s after being terminated “for cause.” Per his contract, Anderson would have been owed $11 million if he had not been fired for cause, and he believes he was wrongfully terminated, according to ESPN.

The Red Storm hope that Pitino can rebuild the program to reclaim the glory that has been missing after legendary coach Carnesecca’s departure in 1992. The school has had seven head coaches and just eight NCAA tournaments appearance since Carnesecca’s retirement.

“We are thrilled to announce Hall of Fame coach and New York native Rick Pitino will lead our men’s basketball program into the next chapter of its long and storied history,” said Cragg. “Coach Pitino is one of the most brilliant minds in the history of the game and has won at the highest levels everywhere he has coached. There is no doubt in my mind he will restore a championship-level program and culture for St. John’s Basketball.”

Pitino coached with the Knicks as an assistant under current ESPN analyst Hubie Brown. Pitino became the head coach of the Knicks from 1987 to 1989.

St. John’s hope Pitino’s local roots will create a buzz and winning environment around the program, which the school has failed to do in recent years.