What Happened to Rick Pitino?
Rick Pitino, a Hall of Fame college basketball coach, experienced a significant career setback in 2017 when he was fired from the University of Louisville amidst scandal. After a successful stint coaching in Greece and a revitalizing period at Iona University, Pitino made a high-profile return to major college basketball, taking the helm at St. John's University in 2023. He has since led the Red Storm to remarkable success, including back-to-back Big East championships and a Sweet 16 appearance, and signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season as of March 2026.
Quick Answer
Rick Pitino is currently the head men's basketball coach at St. John's University, a position he took in March 2023. He has revitalized the program, leading them to consecutive Big East regular season and tournament championships and a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. In January 2026, he achieved his 900th career collegiate victory, becoming only the fourth Division I coach to reach this milestone. As of March 2026, Pitino signed a contract extension with St. John's, securing his role through the 2029-30 season and making him the second-highest paid coach in the Big East.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline11 events
Fired from University of Louisville
Rick Pitino was fired as head coach of the University of Louisville men's basketball team following an FBI investigation into a pay-for-play scheme involving Adidas and recruits.
Hired by Panathinaikos B.C.
Pitino took his coaching talents to Greece, becoming the head coach of Panathinaikos B.C. of the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague.
Wins Greek Cup Championship
During his tenure with Panathinaikos, Pitino led the team to a Greek Cup Championship, adding another title to his extensive resume.
Named Head Coach at Iona University
Pitino returned to college basketball, accepting the head coaching position at Iona University, signaling his return to the American collegiate game.
Leads Iona to NCAA Tournament
In his first full season, Pitino guided Iona to the MAAC regular season and tournament championships, earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Hired as Head Coach at St. John's University
After a successful stint at Iona, Pitino made a high-profile move to St. John's University, returning to a major conference in his home state.
Achieves 900th Career Collegiate Win
Pitino earned his 900th career collegiate victory as St. John's defeated Xavier, making him the fourth Division I coach to reach this milestone. The game notably featured a matchup against his son, Richard Pitino, coaching Xavier.
Leads St. John's to Sweet 16 and Back-to-Back Big East Titles
Pitino guided St. John's to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, where they lost to Duke. This season also marked back-to-back Big East regular season and tournament championships for the Red Storm under his leadership.
Signs Contract Extension with St. John's
Following a highly successful season, Pitino signed a contract extension with St. John's, extending his tenure through the 2029-30 season and making him the second-highest paid coach in the Big East.
Criticizes NCAA Tournament Press Conference Protocols
After St. John's loss in the Sweet 16, Pitino publicly expressed frustration with the NCAA's postgame press conference protocols, suggesting the losing team should go first.
Reported Pedicure with Mark Pope
Kentucky coach Mark Pope, a former player under Pitino, hinted at getting a pedicure with a 'powerful person in all of sport' and mentor in New York, with all signs pointing to Rick Pitino, showcasing their continued close relationship.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Rick Pitino's storied coaching career faced its most significant challenge in October 2017 when he was fired as head coach of the University of Louisville. This dismissal followed an FBI investigation into a pay-for-play scheme involving Adidas and recruits, which implicated the Louisville program. The scandal, coupled with previous controversies, led to his abrupt departure from the institution where he had won a national championship in 2013 (later vacated).
Following his exit from Louisville, Pitino took his coaching talents overseas, leading Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague from 2018 to 2020, where he achieved a Greek Cup Championship in 2019. This period allowed him to step away from the intense scrutiny of American college basketball and rebuild his coaching profile.
His return to the U.S. collegiate ranks came in March 2020 when he was named head coach at Iona University. Pitino quickly transformed the Gaels into a dominant force in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), leading them to a 64-22 overall record and two MAAC regular season and tournament championships in three seasons, including NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2023. His success at Iona demonstrated his continued ability to build winning programs and reignited interest from larger institutions.
In March 2023, Pitino made his highly anticipated return to major conference coaching, accepting the head coach position at St. John's University, a Big East Conference program in his native New York. His tenure at St. John's has been marked by a rapid and significant turnaround. In his first season, the Red Storm narrowly missed an NCAA Tournament bid but showed considerable improvement. The 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons saw St. John's achieve unprecedented success under Pitino, winning back-to-back Big East regular season and tournament championships, a feat unmatched in Big East history.
A key turning point in his St. John's tenure came on January 24, 2026, when Pitino earned his 900th career collegiate victory in a dramatic comeback win against Xavier, coached by his son Richard Pitino. This milestone solidified his place as one of only four Division I coaches to reach 900 on-court wins. The 2025-26 season culminated in St. John's reaching the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, where they ultimately fell to top-seeded Duke.
As of August 13, 2026, Rick Pitino remains the head coach at St. John's. Following the successful 2025-26 season, he signed a contract extension in March 2026, which will keep him with the Red Storm through the 2029-30 season and significantly increased his salary, making him the second-highest paid coach in the Big East. His current career record stands at 915-318 (.742) heading into the 2026-27 season, ranking him third all-time in Division I on-court victories. Pitino continues to be a prominent and influential figure in college basketball, demonstrating a remarkable ability to rebuild programs and achieve success despite past controversies.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Rick Pitino made different choices?