St. John’s and Rick Pitino Extend Coaching Contract
St. John’s has recently come to an agreement with Rick Pitino on a revised contract, adding an additional year to his current deal, according to reports.
Discussions about this arrangement have been ongoing for quite a while now. It not only secures a pay increase for Pitino, who will become the second-highest paid coach in the league, trailing only Connecticut’s Dan Hurley, but it also boosts salaries for the entire coaching team. That was a crucial factor in finalizing the deal. Reports indicate that Hurley’s annual base salary is approximately $8.33 million, while Pitino’s will be around $6 million.
Before the contract extension, Pitino was ranked as the sixth-highest paid coach in the Big East. His prior contract was estimated to be worth around $20 million over six years.
“We are committed to ensuring Rick remains happy,” stated Father Brian Shanley, the president of St. John’s, reflecting similar sentiments from athletic director Ed Cull. They seem to be following through on those promises.
Pitino mentioned he plans to take a little time next week to consider whether he wishes to continue coaching. Still, given that he has signed a new contract, it seems he is likely to keep going.
During the Big East Tournament, Pitino voiced, “What we’ve achieved has been beneficial for both sides, elevating the crowd experience and the national profile. It’s a splendid partnership, not just for us but for the entire coaching team.”
In just three years, Pitino transformed St. John’s, guiding the team to two consecutive Big East regular season championships and tournament titles—milestones that hadn’t been achieved before.
In March, the team reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, although they lost 80-75 to Duke, the top overall seed. It was also a significant season as they secured 30 wins for two years in a row for the first time since the 1980s.
Pitino has frequently mentioned that it’s either St. John’s or retirement for him, and there’s no sign that he’s slowing down. After hitting the 900-win mark this year, he noted his ambition to reach 1,000 wins if he stays healthy. This led the school to extend his contract by another year, officials confirmed.
Pitino remarked in February, “While scoring 900 points is nice, reaching 1,000 would be even better. To make that happen, I need to stay healthy, have strong recruits, and maintain a good pipeline.”
This offseason is critical for the Johnnies as they set to lose their starting frontcourt players—Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, and Bryce Hopkins. On the brighter side, promising players like Dylan Darling, Joeson Sanon, and Ruben Prey are expected to return. Meanwhile, billionaire supporter Mike Lepore has promised to financially assist Pitino in rebuilding the team.
“I’m genuinely excited about not just this year but also the next,” Lepore shared in a video on his social media. “I’ve assured Ed Cull and the athletic department, as well as Coach Pitino and next year’s team, that I want to build something lasting here over the next five to ten years, not just a quick fix.”
