St. John's University Athletics
Rick Pitino Named 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith National Coach of the Year
4/6/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
St. John’s Head Coach earns third major National Coach of the Year award on Sunday in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO – St. John's men's basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino was named the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith National Coach of the Year on Sunday in San Antonio.
Pitino received the prestigious accolade during an awards presentation at the Tobin Center for Performing Arts. Naismith Player of the Year Cooper Flagg of Duke and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner were also honored.
"I'm truly honored to be the recipient of the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award, especially with the incredible coaching of the other finalists this past season," said Pitino. "I want to thank my players and coaches for making this possible after a historic season for St. John's Basketball. I am also grateful to the Atlanta Tipoff Club and the Naismith Awards selection committee for this prestigious honor."
Pitino becomes the first St. John's coach to ever win the award, which dates back to the 1986-87 season.
"Werner Ladder congratulates Coach Rick Pitino for his unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership throughout the season, which has earned him this well-deserved recognition," said Stacy Gardella, Head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at ProDriven Brands. "We are proud to present this award, celebrating excellence in collegiate coaching, and offer our congratulations to him for guiding St. John's men's basketball team through another remarkable season."
After winning the Associated Press National Coach of the Year Award on Friday and the U.S. Basketball Writers' Association National Coach of the Year Award on March 21, this honor marks the third major coach of the year recognition for Pitino in just his second year at St. John's.
The 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer orchestrated a memorable season at St. John's leading the Red Storm to its first outright BIG EAST Regular Season Championship in 40 years and a dominant run to capture the BIG EAST Tournament crown, defeating all three opponents by 16 points or more.
St. John's finished with an overall record of 31-5, matching the program's highest-ever win total reached by Lou Carnesecca's 1984-85 and 1985-86 squads. The Johnnies logged five victories over AP Top-25 opponents.
The Red Storm captivated the Big Apple winning all 21 games played in New York City this past season. St. John's also tallied an undefeated record at home for the first time since 1931-32 and won all 12 contests at Madison Square Garden.
The active winningest coach in college basketball, Pitino, holds an all-time collegiate record of 885-311 (.740 pct), which marks the fifth most wins in NCAA Division I history. The New York native became the first-ever coach to lead six different schools to the NCAA Tournament. Pitino led St. John's to a No. 2 seed and the program's first NCAA Tournament victory in 25 years.
Over his decorated career, Pitino has made 24 NCAA Tournament appearances with six different programs, advancing to 13 Sweet 16's, 12 trips to Elite Eight, the Final Four seven times, and two National Championships at Kentucky (1996) and Louisville (2013).
Pitino received the prestigious accolade during an awards presentation at the Tobin Center for Performing Arts. Naismith Player of the Year Cooper Flagg of Duke and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner were also honored.
"I'm truly honored to be the recipient of the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award, especially with the incredible coaching of the other finalists this past season," said Pitino. "I want to thank my players and coaches for making this possible after a historic season for St. John's Basketball. I am also grateful to the Atlanta Tipoff Club and the Naismith Awards selection committee for this prestigious honor."
Pitino becomes the first St. John's coach to ever win the award, which dates back to the 1986-87 season.
"Werner Ladder congratulates Coach Rick Pitino for his unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership throughout the season, which has earned him this well-deserved recognition," said Stacy Gardella, Head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at ProDriven Brands. "We are proud to present this award, celebrating excellence in collegiate coaching, and offer our congratulations to him for guiding St. John's men's basketball team through another remarkable season."
After winning the Associated Press National Coach of the Year Award on Friday and the U.S. Basketball Writers' Association National Coach of the Year Award on March 21, this honor marks the third major coach of the year recognition for Pitino in just his second year at St. John's.
The 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer orchestrated a memorable season at St. John's leading the Red Storm to its first outright BIG EAST Regular Season Championship in 40 years and a dominant run to capture the BIG EAST Tournament crown, defeating all three opponents by 16 points or more.
St. John's finished with an overall record of 31-5, matching the program's highest-ever win total reached by Lou Carnesecca's 1984-85 and 1985-86 squads. The Johnnies logged five victories over AP Top-25 opponents.
The Red Storm captivated the Big Apple winning all 21 games played in New York City this past season. St. John's also tallied an undefeated record at home for the first time since 1931-32 and won all 12 contests at Madison Square Garden.
The active winningest coach in college basketball, Pitino, holds an all-time collegiate record of 885-311 (.740 pct), which marks the fifth most wins in NCAA Division I history. The New York native became the first-ever coach to lead six different schools to the NCAA Tournament. Pitino led St. John's to a No. 2 seed and the program's first NCAA Tournament victory in 25 years.
Over his decorated career, Pitino has made 24 NCAA Tournament appearances with six different programs, advancing to 13 Sweet 16's, 12 trips to Elite Eight, the Final Four seven times, and two National Championships at Kentucky (1996) and Louisville (2013).
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