St. John’s and Rick Pitino are in talks for a restructured contract that could ensure he finishes his legendary coaching career in Queens, according to multiple sources.
A lucrative contract offer, which would make him the second-highest-paid coach in the Big East after Connecticut’s Dan Hurley, has been extended. An agreement has yet to be reached, although there is optimism on both sides a deal will get done — possibly even this week.
Pitino has publicly said in the past week that St. John’s will be his last job. It’s either remaining in Queens or retiring, and all indications are that he doesn’t plan to hang it up just yet. According to a source, St. John’s has told Pitino it wants him to reach 1,000 career wins at the Big East school. Pitino reached 900 with a win over Xavier on Jan. 24.
Billionaire booster Mike Repole told The Post: “I am extremely confident Rick Pitino will win his 1,000th game as St. John’s coach.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
