QUEENS, N.Y. — St. John’s resurgence under head coach Rick Pitino reached another milestone this week, as the Hall of Famer was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) North Atlantic District Coach of the Year, highlighting one of the most dominant runs in program history.
Pitino’s Leadership Drives Historic St. John’s Turnaround
In just his third season leading the Red Storm, Pitino has transformed St. John’s into a national powerhouse. The program owns a 79–24 record (.767) during his tenure, including an impressive 59–11 (.843) mark over the past two seasons alone. Building on a 2024–25 campaign in which he captured three major National Coach of the Year honors, Pitino delivered another elite year in 2026.
St. John’s made BIG EAST history by securing back-to-back outright regular season and conference tournament championships, a first for the league. The Red Storm powered through the 2026 BIG EAST Tournament with three double-digit victories, earning Pitino his fifth BIG EAST Tournament title and the 16th conference tournament championship of his career.
Pitino also continues to climb the sport’s all-time ranks. He surpassed 900 career wins on Jan. 24 with an 88–83 victory at Xavier and now sits third all-time with 913 wins. As he enters his 25th NCAA Tournament appearance, Pitino holds a 55–22 (.714) record in March Madness, ranking among the best totals of any active coach. His résumé includes seven Final Four appearances across three programs and two national championships (Kentucky, 1996; Louisville, 2013).
Star Players Earn NABC All-District Honors
While Pitino’s leadership has been the driving force, four St. John’s players were also recognized with NABC All-District honors, reflecting the team’s depth and execution.
Zuby Ejiofor earned First Team honors following a historic season that placed him among the most decorated players in BIG EAST history. The 6-foot-9 forward became the first player ever to win BIG EAST Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and the Dave Gavitt Trophy (Tournament MVP) in the same season. He leads the team with 16.3 points per game while also contributing 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks, helping fuel a 19–1 run over the team’s last 20 games.
Bryce Hopkins, a graduate transfer from Providence, also landed on the First Team after a strong final collegiate season. He averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and played a key role during the conference tournament, posting 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest en route to the title.
Dillon Mitchell and Dylan Darling were both named Second Team selections. Mitchell’s versatility has made him a critical piece on both ends of the floor, averaging 8.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting efficiently at 54.8 percent. Darling, a redshirt junior guard, has delivered timely performances throughout the season, averaging 7.0 points, 2.5 assists, and a team-high 1.4 steals per game.
Momentum Builds as NCAA Tournament Begins
With Pitino at the helm and a roster filled with high-impact contributors, St. John’s enters the NCAA Tournament as one of the nation’s most in-form teams. The Red Storm, seeded fifth in the East Region, will face 12th-seeded Northern Iowa in the first round on Friday at Viejas Arena in San Diego, with tip-off scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS.
As the postseason begins, Pitino’s latest Coach of the Year honor underscores what has become clear across college basketball: St. John’s is once again a national contender under one of the game’s most accomplished leaders.
Leave a Reply