Rick Pitino makes final decision on coaching future amid UNC rumors

Rick Pitino has always been regarded as one of the best coaches in college basketball, but his resurgence with St. John’s landed in rarified air as he mulled over his future.

In the past 24 hours, his name has skyrocketed with oddsmakers as a name to look out for in North Carolina’s search for a new head coach after letting go of Hubert Davis.

Earlier on Sunday, on Kalshi, the prediction website, he shot up to over 20% and was the fastest riser on the market to take the Tar Heels job.

But by Sunday night, Pitino had made his choice on where he wants to coach going forward, and it’s not in Chapel Hill.

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Pitino believes that St. John’s can build a champion, and he doubled down on his commitment to the school by signing an extension. “The deal includes an additional year through the 2029-30 season and a significant increase in pay to make him the Big East’s second-highest-paid coach,” per ESPN’s senior college sports insider Pete Thamel.

Pitino’s decision is one of many dominoes that might fall in the coming weeks as North Carolina continues putting pressure on other schools to lock up their coaches as they try to find the true heir to Roy Williams.

For the Red Storm of St. John’s, though, they are already building toward the next campaign behind Pitino and a booster group willing to spend to make the school a perennial contender.

Billionaire Mike Repole, who publicly stated he spent $5 million on the team this season, is already saying he is willing to spend the same amount or more if that is what it takes for Pitino to win a national title with the Red Storm.