30-03-2025
St. John's Announces Rick Pitino News After Upset Loss in NCAA Tournament
The No. 2 seed St. John's Red Storm experienced a resurgence this season under legendary head coach Rick Pitino in just his second year. However, after suffering an upset loss to the No. 10 seed Arkansas Razorbacks in the Round of 32, it was evident that there is still work to be done.
Despite the early exit, the Johnnies had a successful campaign, capturing both the Big East regular season and conference titles. They also boasted the conference's Player of the Year, RJ Luis, who struggled in their NCAA Tournament second-round matchup, shooting just 3-for-17 from the field. His performance led to his benching over the final four minutes of the game.
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While the expectations were set higher than a second-round exit, St. John's did manage to secure their first tournament win since 2000. Given the strong season overall, the Red Storm announced some positive news regarding Rick Pitino on Monday, just two days after the loss.
Pitino was announced as one of the four finalists for the Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year award alongside Jon Scheyer of Duke, Kelvin Sampson of Houston, and Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers.
Rick Pitino is the only coach to have won national championships at two different schools, and he also holds the distinction of being the first coach to lead six different programs to the NCAA Tournament.
St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino.© Eric Canha-Imagn Images
The St. John's program was in desperate need of an uplift and a cultural shift, and Pitino has delivered exactly that. After a successful stint coaching in Greece with a EuroLeague powerhouse, he returned to the collegiate level, where he revitalized the Iona Gaels before accepting his current role with the Red Storm in New York.
Related: Rick Pitino Facing Extreme Backlash for RJ Luis Decision in Arkansas-St. John's
