Friday’s 81–72 win over UConn was a milestone for long-time head coach Rick Pitino. The St. John’s head coach earned the 903rd win of his career, tying former North Carolina head coach and Hall of Famer Roy Williams for third-most all-time in Division I men’s basketball.
For Pitino and the Red Storm, it’s not just another win. It’s a milestone generations in the making, and a comeback story that very few thought possible.
Rick Pitino Ties Roy Williams: A Milestone Redefining Greatness
A Quick Look Back At Pitino’s Career
Rick Pitino’s coaching career spans more than five decades, starting during his playing career in 1974 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Pitino appeared in 63 games during his collegiate career, averaging 4.0 points, 5.2 assists, and shooting 49.3% from the field, according to Sports Reference.
Not long after graduating, Pitino took his first steps into coaching at the University of Hawaii. He joined the program as an assistant for the 1975-76 season and briefly served as the team’s interim head coach.
It was in Hawaii that Pitino got his first taste of NCAA violations after allegedly providing improper benefits to his players. This was, of course, prior to the days of Name, Image, and Likeness.
His first extended run as a head coach came at Boston University. During that stretch, the Terriers captured two regular-season titles, in 1980 and 1983, along with a conference tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth in 1983. Pitino finished above .500 in each of his five seasons at BU.
Pitino’s reputation grew in the Big East with Providence. However, it wasn’t until his time in the SEC at Kentucky, starting in 1989, that he became a household name. In six of his eight seasons at the helm with the Wildcats, Pitino led Kentucky to NCAA Tournament appearances, including three Final Fours and a national championship in 1996.
He later accepted a position at Louisville in 2002 before he was fired following a scandal and federal investigation in 2017. In a 2018 interview with ABC News, Pitino said, “I think I’m done with coaching.”
An Improbable Return In Four Seasons Later
Ahead of the 2020-21 season, Pitino surprisingly came out of retirement to take over at Iona. In three seasons in the MAAC, he went 64–22. In his first year, the Gaels reached the NCAA tournament. He repeated that feat in dominant fashion over the next two seasons.
During that stretch, Iona captured two regular-season titles, a conference tournament championship, and earned a second NCAA tournament appearance in 2023. That success set the stage for another return to the Big East with St. John’s.
His first season in Queens largely met expectations. The Red Storm finished 20–13 but fell short of a postseason berth. In 2024, however, Pitino flipped the script. He guided St. John’s to a regular-season title, a Big East Tournament championship, and another trip to the NCAA tournament.
This season, the momentum rolls on. The Red Storm sat at 17–5 and briefly cracked the AP Top 5 earlier in the year. They currently trail UConn by just one game in the conference standings while riding the Big East’s longest active winning streak at nine games.
Who Still Stands Ahead Of Pitino
As previously mentioned, Pitino sits in third all-time, tied with Williams at 903 wins. Only former Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and the legendary Mike Krzyzewski sit above the pair.
Boeheim and Krzyzewski are the only two coaches to top 1,000 wins at the Division I level. Should Pitino coach long enough to reach Boeheim, it will take another four to five seasons at a minimum.
One aspect of his career makes Pitino stand out – resilience. His career, one full of controversy, polarizing setbacks, and improbable comebacks, is a reminder that even in the modern landscape, perseverance prevails.
Oh yeah, and he’s also no longer the only Pitino with his hat in the ring at this level. His son, Richard, recently took over at Xavier.
Featured Image: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
