If Ed Cooley dances from Providence ARRIVE Georgetown still not enough, the Big East had its second round of landscape change hires on Monday, with Saint John official agree to an agreement with Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
Pitino was Red Storm’s top target from the start, emerging as a favorite even before they shoot Mike Anderson, and no other serious candidate has ever emerged. Almost as soon as Pitino’s Iona loser team UConn Huskies in the first round of the NCAA tournament, discussions progress. Pitino met with St. John On Sunday nightand the deal was done less than 24 hours later.
It’s undeniably a major coup for the Johnnies, who are hungry for a big-name coach in their bid to return to their glory days.
How does it affect Pitino’s new school, his alma mater, and the entire Big East? Jeff Borzello, John Gasaway and Myron Medcalf of ESPN join.
How good does Pitino fit in with St. John’s?
People want to risk that Hall of Fame coaches fit in wherever they decide to go. Pitino won national titles in Kentucky and Louisville. This makes him both an answer to a trivia question and a category for himself. Pitino is the only coach to have done so at two different programs. While there was indeed storm of controversy and a bit of an accounting controversy over that second championship, the coach somehow has no shortage of suitors in 2023. Pitino chose St.
When Pitino debuted as head coach in the Big East in 1985, Ed Cooley was playing basketball at Providence Central High School. In other words, this is not the first horse race of the new St. John. The university appears to be counting on Pitino to elevate the program as he begins nearing the end of a career that is thought to have ended. Pitino is a New York City native and the Long Island product has won in old ECAC, Big East, SEC, American, ACC and most recently MAAC. John’s considered all of the above and decided, yes, Rick Pitino is a good fit for Queens. — John Gasaway
John’s Appoints Rick Pitino As New Men’s Basketball Head Coach
: https://t.co/nCE8KAUap5 pic.twitter.com/pyDqcoKEcr
– St. John (@StJohnsBBall) March 20, 2023
What’s next for Iona?
Iona has been a hotbed of high-level coaching talent and has been consistently successful for over 40 years, dating back to Jim Valvano in the late 1970s. Pat Kennedy took over from Valvano when he left for NC State, attending. two NCAA tournaments before leaving Florida State. Tim Welsh jumped from Iona to Providence, while Jeff Ruland later led the Gaels to three NCAA appearances. Kevin Willard was scouted by Seton Hall, Tim Cluess attended six NCAA tournaments in nine seasons — and then, of course, three Pitino-led seasons. So Iona sporting director Matthew Glovaski will be able to choose from an attractive pool of candidates.
The two that jumped out were Fairleigh Dickinson‘s Tobin Anderson, everyone’s first weekend NCAA tournament, and BryantIt was Jared Grasso, who was Cluess’s assistant for eight years at Iona before quickly debunking Bryant and attending last season’s NCAA tournament. –Jeff Borzello
How does this change the Big East landscape?
I mean, it gives St. John’s has a better chance to pursue the same talent that helped UConn and Villanova and all the other East Coast schools, which will make the league even more competitive. But I think it also greatly expands the recruiting footprint for St. John’s. Pitino’s return for a major convention will attract a lot of young talent who are aware of his achievements. Plus, he could be the one to convince a bunch of transfers to follow him to New York City. And if all of this happens, St. John’s will have the opportunity to make a bigger impact in the years to come. The change will not happen immediately. But Pitino always wins big, and he always leaves his mark. This will make no difference. — Myron Medcalf
