Rick Pitino had to stick around for a couple extra days at the Final Four in San Antonio this weekend after he was named as the Associated Press Co-Coach of the Year on Friday, he won the Naismith Coach of the Year on Sunday.
It marked another honor that Pitino won for the first time, as well as program’s only winner of the award. Houston’s Kelvin Sampson, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, and Duke’s Jon Scheyer were the other nominees.
The announcement completed the sweep of Coach of the Year awards for the Hall of Famer, who took home the Big East Coach of the Year as well.
Yet Pitino kept the history of the Red Storm in his mind as he stepped to the podium.
“This would’ve been the 100th birthday of Lou Carnesecca this year,” Pitino closed his remarks with. “So, Lou, this is your award, we share it with you because you are St. John’s.”
In the first game St. John’s played after Carnesecca’s death, Pitino wore a replica sweater that the legendary coach would wear on the bench as he coached the Johnnies. It was the first of many tributes throughout the season as the Red Storm turned in one of its best years since ‘Looie’ was on the sidelines.
“I’m in it 50 years and I’m just getting started in the business,” Pitino continued. “I feel a new, new feeling inside of building St. John’s because in the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s they had just a market of all the great players in the northeast.”
“Now we are bringing it back. It’s a special feeling.”
Rick Pitino led St. John’s to its first outright Big East regular season championship since 1985 and its first Big East Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament victory since 2000.
Its 31 victories also tied a program record.
Despite the disappointing end to the season, Pitino has already started the offseason strong as he looks to bring the Red Storm back to its first Final Four since Lou Carnesecca.