Rick Pitino has led St. John’s to two consecutive Big East regular season and conference tournament championships, and it’s safe to say the program is interested in keeping the good times rolling.
Shortly after St. John’s March Madness run came to an end against Duke, Pitino signed a handsome extension that will keep him on the sidelines for years to come.
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The deal will run through the 2029-2030 campaign and make Pitino the second highest paid coach in the Big East.
“Coach Pitino has changed the culture of our community and we want his presence to be felt on this campus for years to come. We look forward to more Big East championships and NCAA tournament runs with Coach Pitino at the helm,” St. John’s athletic director Ed Kull said in a release.
The 73-year-old has an 81-25 record in three seasons with St. John’s. During the Red Storm’s 2026 postseason run, Pitino did not commit to any future plans past this season.
“I can be out of coaching next year. I’m 73,” he said. “I want to have the greatest time of my life. I want to coach this game like it’s the last game I’ll ever coach. … But I also appreciate the blessings I’ve been given by being allowed to coach this long.”
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Pitino was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: St. John’s Basketball: Rick Pitino signs lucrative contract extension