Rick Pitino adamant he isn't leaving St. John's, jokes about being 'overpaid'

Year 2 Rick Pitino has struck again at St. John’s. The Red Storm won their first Big East title since 1992, just two years removed from a 7-13 record in league play.

But as notable jobs – such as the one at Indiana – start to open, Pitino’s name is emerging as a potential dream candidate if he chooses to leave St. John’s. During an appearance on WFAN in New York on Tuesday, he made it clear he has no plans to go anywhere.

Pitino’s reason for not wanting to leave is pretty simple, though. He joked he’s “overpaid,” and he wondered what his agent would say about that comment.

“Why would I leave?” Pitino said, via Awful Announcing. “Where am I going to go that I would want to leave? This is New York City, the greatest city in the world. This is a program that is in the top 10. I’m overpaid right now. They should take some money away from me. I don’t need anything.

“My agent’s gonna kill me for saying that because he keeps saying ‘You’re not in the top five of Big East coaches.’ He’s gonna kill me now.”

Rick Pitino on Indiana rumors: ‘I belong at St. John’s’

St. John’s missed out on the NCAA Tournament last season despite a 20-13 overall record and an 11-9 mark in Big East play, but later declined a bid to the NIT. But as has been the case at Pitino’s previous stops at Kentucky, Louisville and Iona, Year 2 is proving to be a huge leap forward.

The Red Storm enter Saturday’s season finale with a 26-4 overall record, putting the program on track for its best year since 1985-86 under the late, great Lou Carnesecca. With a 17-2 record in Big East action, St. John’s will also be the No. 1 seed at the conference tournament, which gets underway next week from Madison Square Garden.

When it comes to other jobs after this season, though, Rick Pitino recently said he hasn’t had any contact with Indiana. His name came up as a potential home-run swing if IU athletics director Scott Dolson chose to take one, but Pitino didn’t think he’d be a good fit in the role. He reiterated his happiness at St. John’s

“No. No one,” Pitino said on Pardon My Take last month. “I would never hire myself for that job. … I belong at St. John’s.”