Rick Pitino, the head coach of the St. John’s Red Storm, has never shied away from a good soundbite, and ahead of the team’s Round of 64 game against No. 15 seed Omaha, the Hall of Famer was asked who he considers his greatest coaching rival.
His answer certainly caught most off guard.
Rick Pitino’s True Rival Isn’t Who You Think
Pitino recently surprised much of the basketball world by naming former UConn coach Jim Calhoun—not John Calipari, as many might assume—as the lone coaching rival of his storied career.
Rick Pitino says he only had one true coaching rival and it was Jim Calhoun
‘He was at Northeastern and l was at BU and we hated each other. There were 300 people in the stands but we hated each other’
@UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/fZyokAv84b
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 19, 2025
Pitino and Calhoun’s rivalry dates back to their early days in Boston during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Pitino, then at Boston University, and Calhoun, at Northeastern, frequently clashed in high-scoring contests that helped shape their coaching identities.
“There is only one coach I’ve ever considered a rival in my whole career,” Pitino said. “And today, I respect him as much as anybody in the game—and that’s Jim Calhoun.”
“We hated each other—BU and Northeastern hated each other,” Pitino continued. “And there were 300 people in each arena. He goes on to coach at Connecticut, and I go on to coach at Providence, and we hated each other there as well.”
“And today, I don’t think I respect any coach in the game as much as I respect Jim Calhoun. Looking back on it, it was really funny at that stage of BU vs. Northeastern.”
Their rivalry only intensified when both landed at major Big East programs—Pitino at Providence and Calhoun at UConn—where their teams regularly battled for conference supremacy and helped elevate the Big East’s national stature.
Despite their fiery past, Pitino now speaks of Calhoun with deep admiration. “Today, I don’t think I respect any coach in the game as much as Jim Calhoun,” he reiterated.
Both Pitino and Calhoun left unmistakable marks on college basketball. Pitino has guided teams to multiple Final Fours and won national championships with Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013. Calhoun turned UConn into a powerhouse, winning national titles in 1999, 2004, and 2011.
Pitino’s acknowledgment of Calhoun as his true rival sheds light on just how much coaching roots mean and how humble beginnings can transcend even greatness.
Their mutual respect today highlights how time can transform even the most fierce competition into an endearing relationship. But you better believe Pitino would relish another victory over Calhoun if he could.
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