Iona Gaels head coach Rick Pitino. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Pitino makes decision on head coaching future

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 3/20/23

Rick Pitino is heading back to the big time.

Pitino has agreed to become the new head coach at St. John’s, according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Pete Thamel reported Monday that Pitino will get a six-year contract from the university, and is informing his Iona players of his decision today.

ESPN Reporting with @PeteThamel: Iona’s Rick Pitino has agreed on a six-year deal to become St. John’s coach. Pitino’s taken three schools to the Final Four, won NCAA titles at Kentucky and Louisville and now makes move to restore the Red Storm to Big East prominence. pic.twitter.com/V3BQocSSdG

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 20, 2023

Pitino’s return to coaching at this level is quite remarkable.

He was fired by Louisville in 2017 as a result of multiple scandals, and his college career looked finished at that point. He spent three years coaching in Greece, but then Iona took a chance on him and was rewarded with a 64-22 record over three seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

The 70-year-old apparently gave thought to staying at Iona, but the chance to return to the Big East at this stage of his career had to be too much to pass up. The Red Storm have made the NCAA Tournament just once since 2015, losing in the First Four in 2019.

Pitino has a career 834-293 record at the college level. He's earned three SEC Coach of the Year awards and one Conference USA Coach of the Year award as well as various National Coach of the Year accolades.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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