Rick Pitino gets well-earned contract extension with St. John’s

Rick Pitino has put St. John’s basketball back on the map. Now the two sides are renewing their commitment to one another.

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday, Pitino has agreed to a reworked contract with the university that includes an additional year (through 2029-30) and a raise that will make him the second-highest paid coach in the Big East.

Rick Pitino gets well-earned raise with St. John’s

St. John’s decision to hire Pitino has been one of the most significant coaching hires in recent college basketball history and has paid off with immediate results. He has won at least 20 games in each of his first three years with the program, while also taking it to consecutive NCAA tournaments. 

But even that is underselling what he has done so far.

St. John’s has won consecutive Big East regular-season championships and consecutive Big East tournament championships, and has reached its first Sweet 16 since the 1998-99 season.