Retirement rumors for head coach Rick Pitino are once again in the air after St. John’s Red Storm were eliminated by the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. With him turning 74 this year, some believe the head coach might hang up his shoes following the disappointing loss.
On Saturday, Pitino sent a cryptic message on social media, where he showed love to his boys in the wake of a heartbreaking loss. It’s almost as if he was giving vote of thanks in his retirement ceremony.
“It’s not often you coach a group of young men that care so much for each other and gave me every ounce of perspiration they had in them. Loved every day I was with them. Thank you Men!!!” Pitino wrote on X.
Earlier, Pitino revealed the reason the 2025-26 Red Storm were the best he coached in his career.
“This team was one of the most unique teams I’ve had in 52 years. Never one argument amongst the players, impossible summer and regular season. Not one potential fight or somebody getting upset at somebody. I’ve never seen that in my 52 years,” Pitino said.
“They were just the greatest kids in the world. They wanted to win so badly. They were willing to do anything to try and win. I’ll never have a team like this again with that type of attitude. I may have some good teams, but never, ever again with this type of attitude and just incredible people. My heart breaks for them right now.”
Pitino has already built a strong case for a great coaching resume. He’s closing in on 1,000 wins after coaching over six Division I college programs, including Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, Iona, and St. John’s. He’s a two-time NCAA champion, including the 2013 championship with Louisville, which was later vacated by the NCAA. He was the first coach to win NCAA titles at two different schools.
St. John’s HC Rick Pitino Gives Clear Retirement Picture
St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino exclusively told NJ Advance Media that it’s either retirement or staying with the Red Storm, eliminating any chance of him going elsewhere, like the North Carolina Tar Heels, who are searching for a new head coach after firing Hubert Davis.
Pitino’s agent Evan Daniels holds a restructured contract from St. John’s waiting to be signed. Given the loss, the signing could get delayed as the head coach might still be processing the disappointment. The restructured contract will pay roughly $7 million per year for the next three seasons.
It remains to be seen if there is more fodder out of this retirement rumors for Rick Pitino.
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