Rick Pitino on retirement timeline: ‘I have 3-5 more years’

Rick Pitino took the college basketball world by storm this season with St. John’s. New York’s team finally felt back in the mix, winning the Big East regular season title and earning a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Pitino is hoping for sustained success but the only question is — how long will he be at the helm?

Right now, Pitino is loving everything about being the St. John’s head coach. He also understands retirement is coming in the near future, setting the timeline at three to five years. Until then, Pitino is enjoying the ride in New York City and hopes to continue the momentum.

“I’m enjoying it now more than ever in my lifetime,” Pitino said via SNY. “Because it’s New York, it’s where I started, I’m back home. And I understand I’m going to be 73 years of age even though I act like I’m 35. But I realize I have three, five more years. Bang on some wood. So why not enjoy it? Why not have a blast? And why not try to be the best you possibly can be? So I have more passion, more hunger, more drive than ever before.”

Pitino will turn 73 before the beginning of next season. Based on what he said, retirement could come anywhere between the ages of 76 and 78, before hitting the eight decade mark.

St. John’s does appear to be the final destination after an illustrious career. Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, and Iona have all employed Pitino as their head coach in the college game.

The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks did the same at the NBA level. He is one of the all-time coaches in basketball history, already having been inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

For now, Pitino is already working the NCAA transfer portal in order to make next season’s squad is able to contend on a national level. St. John’s has landed commitments from Bryce Hopkins, a familiar name out of the Big East, and Arizona State‘s Joson Sanon. Zuby Ejiofor announced he will return for another year as well.

On3’s James Fletcher released his way-too-early top 25 rankings after Florida took down Houston in the national championship game Monday. St. John’s is included and quite high up on the list. Pitino could find himself with a preseason top 10 team as Fletcher ranks the Red Storm at No. 10.

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