When St. John’s approached Rick Pitino about its head coaching position nearly two years ago, among its strongest allies was Pitino’s son, Richard.
This is what the New Mexico head coach envisioned.
“There were some other jobs inquiring. I just thought it was the perfect way for him to go out,” Richard Pitino told The Post in a phone interview. “A New York guy through and through. My mom [Joanne] is the same way. They’ve got great friends. It’s really cool to see my brother, my dad’s friends, aunts and uncles at the games at the Garden.”
For the first time in 25 years, St. John’s is winning big, all alone atop the Big East and ranked in the top 10. Rick Pitino is having a blast, leading a renaissance of New York City’s college team at the age of 72 in his season leading the Queens program.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS
“I hope he doesn’t quit coaching anytime soon. Not because he’s winning, but because it seems like he’s really enjoying it and it’s keeping him young,” Richard Pitino said. “When you are coaching a team like St. John’s, and you sit there and watch Zuby [Ejiofor] look like Dennis Rodman on the glass, you watch RJ Luis diving after losing balls, and you’re seeing a team that is playing so hard for the name on the front of the jersey, that’s got to be the most rewarding feeling ever.
“I think it’s a fun group for him to coach because they are legitimately one of the hardest-playing teams in the country. That is really validating.”
St. John’s isn’t the only Pitino-led team having a strong season. New Mexico, the leader in the Mountain West Conference, also is projected to make the NCAA Tournament. Coincidentally, on Sunday both teams played the second-place teams in their respective leagues at home and won narrow contests to create separation. That night, they appeared on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” together.
“We’re living and dying with it,” Richard Pitino said, “because we both work so hard and both programs mean a lot to each other.”
One of the Lobos’ four losses came against the Johnnies back in November at the Garden. Maybe there will be a March Madness rematch.
