Rick Pitino calls out young people, 'quitting' coaches following St. John's win over Butler

Rick Pitino got his first job in college basketball over 50 years ago, serving as an assistant coach at Hawaii. The game has changed throughout his career, especially in recent times. Pitino is 72 years old and back in the Big East with the St. John’s Red Storm.

Dealing with the younger generation is certainly tough for Pitino. He admitted as such during Saturday’s postgame press conference after St. John’s took down Butler. While other coaches across the country his age might be retiring, Pitino made it known he is battling through the adversity.

Maybe even with some external help.

“Young people are different these days,” Pitino said. “I’m still struggling with it…I’m not quitting like some other coaches, but I’m struggling. I gave up drinking for New Year’s, but after today, I think I might have the shortest resolution in the history of mankind.”

After his exit from Louisville, Pitino took some time off from coaching. He got back in the game with Iona but made a jump up to a power conference program with St. John’s. Pitino is in his second season with the Red Storm and finding a good amount of success.

Last year resulted in a 20-13 overall record, winning percentage over .600 for the first time since 2018-2019. But St. John’s did miss out on the NCAA Tournament and are on a five-year drought of participating in the postseason. If you do not count the First Four as getting in the field, it goes back to nine seasons (while also taking out 2020).

Progress is certainly being made with Pitino at the helm and not without some struggles. He is finding the ability to connect with his younger players difficult. Not many coaches would openly admit to something like that although, Pitino is not going to step away from his role.

Some of college basketball’s most prominent coaches have decided to retire in recent years. Pitino did not name anybody specifically but Duke‘s Coach K, Roy Williams of North Carolina, and Virginia head coach Tony Bennett are the biggest names out there. Miami‘s Jim Larrañaga just retired in the middle of the year. Of those, Bennett is the youngest of the bunch, stepping away just ahead of the 2024-2025 season.

Pitino is going to carry on and attempt to fight through his struggles. St. John’s will be back on the court Tuesday night against Xavier in Big East play.