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Rick Pitino hired at St. John’s: CBB world reacts to infamous coach’s return to power six

By Cody Williams

ALBANY, NEW YORK - MARCH 17: Head coach Rick Pitino of the Iona Gaels reacts in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ALBANY, NEW YORK - MARCH 17: Head coach Rick Pitino of the Iona Gaels reacts in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Rick Pitino is the next St. John’s basketball coach after being hired on a six-year deal, which sent the college hoops world into a wild scene. 

Success has not been easy to come by in the past couple of decades for St. John’s basketball. Mike Anderson, who was let go after the 2022-23 season by the Red Storm, is the first head coach since Steve Lavin (2010-15) to have a winning record and only the second since Mike Jarvis, who left the program in 2003.

Now it’s up to legendary — and infamous — head coach Rick Pitino to try and change that.

On Monday with the Iona Gaels now eliminated from March Madness, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Pete Thamel reported that Rick Pitino has been hired with a six-year contract to be the next head coach of St. John’s basketball.

Pitino spent the last three seasons at Iona, accruing a 64-22 overall record and two NCAA Tournament appearances after his unceremonious departure from Louisville that led to him briefly coaching in Greece prior to landing with the Gaels.

Rick Pitino hired by St. John’s basketball: College hoops world reacts

Given his immense success as a head coach combined with his many transgressions at various stops, the college basketball world was buzzing with Rick Pitino now heading to St. John’s.

Pitino himself also offered up a comment on Twitter in the wake of the news.

Pitino is returning to the Big East after spending time there with Louisville early in his 16-season tenure with the Cardinals and even earlier in his career when he spent two years with Providence.

Though there will be jokes about his scandals at Louisville and otherwise, the fact of the matter is that St. John’s just hired perhaps the biggest head coach in many decades for the program. Success should follow as the 70-year-old takes over the Red Storm — the hope is that it’s not tarnished like his vast accomplishments at Louisville ended up being.

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