St. John's reworks Rick Pitino's contract, becomes second-highest-paid coach in Big East

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Mar 30, 2026

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Rick Pitino has a new deal.

The Hall of Famer signed a reworked contract with St. John’s that makes him the second-highest-paid head coach in the Big East, behind only UConn’s Dan Hurley, according to reports.

The deal includes an additional year for the 2029-2030 season, per ESPN.

Pitino, 73, has led St. John’s to back-to-back Big East regular-season and conference-tournament championships.

This year’s trip to the Sweet 16 – where the Red Storm lost to top-seeded Duke, 80-75, on Friday night – marked the program’s deepest NCAA Tournament run since 1999.

In Pitino’s three seasons as head coach, St. John’s is 81-25 (.764).

“I’m not making any plans to move anywhere or do anything, so if it happens, it happens,” Pitino said in February of a potential new contract. “If it doesn’t happen, it’s not a big deal.”

Pitino had signed a six-year contract when St. John’s hired him in 2023.

“He’s at the lower half of the Big East [coach salaries]. What was a decent contract maybe three years ago is an embarrassing contract today,” billionaire booster Mike Repole said on the “Eye on the Storm” podcast last month.

“The right thing to do is, let’s rip up the contract. Let’s get him a new, three-year agreement. Let’s keep him here as long as he wants —because we want him here as long as he wants — and let him continue to work his magic.”