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TRY IT NOWSAN ANTONIO — St. John’s best season in 25 years now includes a program first: An Associated Press National Coach of the Year award-winner.
Rick Pitino was announced as a co-winner of the award, along with Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, on Friday.
It is the first time Pitino has received the honor, and also the first occasion in the 58-year history of the voting there was a tie.
“It is a special treat,” Pitino said at the Alamodome. “We know why we win these awards; it’s dedicated players having a great season and dedicated [coaching] staffs and everybody coming together, and I certainly share that [with them], but I’m excited to win this.”
When Pitino first found out he was the co-winner, he thought he had received the honor once before.
But his wife, Joanne, knew better, reminding him the award he had won was the Wooden Award in 1987.
His response: “That’s awesome!”
Rick Pitino was named the AP Coach of the Year alongside Bruce Pearl. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It comes on the heels of St. John’s winning its first outright Big East regular-season crown since 1985 and first Big East Tournament title since 2000.
Pitino led the program to a school record-equaling 31 wins and its first NCAA Tournament victory in 25 years.
The Johnnies’ season ended in a second-round loss to Arkansas.
Pitino is also a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year, which will be announced on Sunday. The other finalists are Jon Scheyer of Duke, Kelvin Sampson of Houston and Pearl. A St. John’s coach has never won that award before, either.
“The best coach I’ve ever gone up against is Rick Pitino,” Pearl said.
Rick Pitino will share the award with Auburn’s Bruce Pearl. APPitino was also recently named the U.S. Basketball Writers’ Association’s (USBWA) Henry Iba National Coach of the Year.
He is the second St. John’s coach to ever receive that honor, joining Lou Carnesecca in 1983 and ’85.
Pitino was named the Big East Coach of the Year after guiding the Red Storm to an 18-2 lead mark.
Nevertheless, even at the age of 72, he doesn’t sound satisfied.
Rick Pitino led St. John’s to Big East titles in the regular season and tournament this year. Charles Wenzelberg/New York PostThe goal is to build on this memorable season, and advance further in next year’s NCAA Tournament.
“I can’t be any more motivated, I really can’t be,” he said. “I flew to Milan to see a junior and see a senior. I was 18 hours on the plane for 48 hours [in Italy]. I’m highly, highly motivated.”
“It’s all health-decided,” Pitino added, when asked how much longer he wants to coach. “If your health is there and you feel you can put in the effort that’s necessary, [you keep going]. I don’t think you ever want to shortchange the school you’re working for and say let my assistants do a little bit more. When that day comes, you need to pack it in.”
