St. John’s Fires Mike Anderson After 4 Seasons, Is Rick Pitino Next?

St. John’s has fired coach Mike Anderson after four seasons and the school and Iona coach Rick Pitino have mutual interest.

Pitino, 70, is attempting to lead the Gaels to their second NCAA Tournament in three years and is currently coaching in the MAAC Tournament. A two-time MAAC Coach of the Year, he is expected to decide between remaining at St. John’s and staying at Iona, although other schools have expressed interest. Pitino is one of three coaches to lead five programs to the NCAA Tournament, and one NCAA championships at Kentucky and Louisville, although the one at Louisville was vacated.

Pitino lives on the Winged Foot Golf Club in Westchester and would not have to move if he took the St. John’s job. He previously coached in the Big East at Louisville.

“I would bring St. John’s to the Elite level not seen since Louie [Carnesecca] roamed the sidelines,” Pitino told me in 2019 before the school hired Anderson.

“But before that could ever happen, the Southern District of New York would have to apologize for ruining an innocent man’s reputation by putting his name in a complaint. So good luck to my hometown University because that’s not happening.”

He was referring to the FBI investigation into bribery in college basketball, a situation from which he was exonerated last fall by the NCAA’s IARP.

Anderson coached his final game with St. John’s on Thursday, losing to Marquette, 72-70, in the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. After the game he said he hoped to coach in the NIT and to return next year.

But the school had other ideas for Anderson, who is owed North of $11 million.

“After fully evaluating the men’s basketball program, our University has decided a change is needed in both the leadership and direction of St. John’s Basketball,” said St. John’s AD Mike Cragg. “We wish Coach Mike Anderson and his family the best in their future.”

Anderson guided the Red Storm to a 68-56 overall record during his four seasons in Queens, with no NCAA Tournament appearances.

The school said associate head coach Van Macon will lead the program for the interim until a new head coach is identified.

Anderson is the second Big East coach to be fired this week after Georgetown parted ways with Patrick Ewing on Thursday.