St. John’s University Commits to Basketball Excellence
On Saturday, St. John’s University reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining a top-tier basketball program and ensuring Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino remains for the long term.
Just hours before the fifth-ranked Red Storm took to the court at Carnesecca Arena for their exhibition game against Towson, university president Rev. Brian J. Shanley and Pitino participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new $60 million practice facility dedicated to the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Following the event, Shanley and athletic director Ed Kull expressed the university’s readiness to consider offering Pitino a raise or an extension to his existing six-year contract, which reportedly sees him earning between $3 million and $3.5 million annually.
“If we’re a Final Four team or we win it all, there will be many schools interested in hiring Rick,” Shanley mentioned. “However, we believe we offer unique factors that Rick values, such as Madison Square Garden and being based in New York. We will have the best practice facility in the Big East. Unless it’s solely a monetary issue — and I hope it won’t be — we have what it takes to keep him here and satisfied.”
Kull stated, “We will do everything necessary to keep Rick Pitino here. Our commitment is for him to finish his career at St. John’s.” Since his hiring from Iona in March 2023, Pitino has revived a program that had been struggling for 25 years, bringing it back into national prominence by winning the Big East title and securing a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament while regularly selling out games at Madison Square Garden.
Pitino’s current salary ranks among the lower half of coaches in the Big East, which Shanley acknowledged might need to be adjusted. He expressed a willingness to provide the necessary resources to ensure Pitino remains at St. John’s, stating, “I didn’t want to lose Rick as I believe he is the best coach in college basketball.”
Reflecting on his initial interactions with Pitino, Shanley recalled that during Pitino’s first interview, he didn’t express interest in the campus but requested a thorough tour of the athletic facilities afterward. Shanley noted, “That tour was eye-opening; I felt disheartened as our facilities were among the worst in the Big East.”
Plans for the new practice facility are in motion, with a goal to open it by spring 2027. It will feature multiple practice courts, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning area, video rooms, lounges, and hydro-therapy pools, while the current training facility will be repurposed as recreational space for other students.
