Just minutes after Iona fell to UConn in the NCAA Tournament, legendary head coach Rick Pitino had to face the music about his future.
Long been rumored to leave the Gaels and lead a larger program, Pitino shied away from announcing his next move.
“I really haven’t put any thought into it at all. I think when you start thinking ahead, you always fail,” Pitino told reporters postgame, including college basketball writer Jaden Daly. “I don’t know if it’s right for me, another job, I don’t know that.”
However, the 70-year-old acknowledged which school he’s been linked to, telling reporters: “I know you’re all alluding to St. John’s.”
The New York native hasn’t held a Power 6 head coaching job since being ousted at Louisville in 2017 following multiple scandals within the program. Pitino blamed the NCAA for the absence.
“For five years, (the NCAA) put me in the outhouse because they couldn’t get their stuff together,” Pitino said. “That’s just the breaks of the game, you can’t look back.”
Pitino’s illustrious coaching career has included two national championships, though one was vacated due to the scandal. He’s also earned seven Final Fours and a National Coach of the Year award while spending time on the sidelines at Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, and Iona.
Additionally, Pitino spent six seasons in the NBA with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.
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