Former St. John’s coach Mike Anderson is seeking $45.6 million from him Former employer After saying he was fired without cause in March, Anderson’s attorney ESPN said. Anderson claims St. John’s avoided a buyout payment, then used the money to hire former Iona and Louisville head coach Rick Pitino.
After Anderson won Big East Coach of the Year in 2021, he was rewarded with a six-year contract extension that ran through the 2026-27 season. He is seeking the remaining $11.4 million in his contract and an additional $34.2 million in “punitive damages,” according to documents obtained by ESPN.
“I strongly oppose the league’s decision to terminate my contract for cause,” Anderson said in March.. “The charge in cause is completely without merit and I will vigorously defend my contractual rights through the arbitration process.”
In his four-year tenure with the Red Storm, Anderson posted a 68-56 record. St. John’s did not reach the NCAA Tournament or the NIT during that span.
According to St. John’s, Anderson was expelled for “failing to create and support an environment that strongly encourages student-athletes participating in the men’s basketball program to meet all undergraduate academic requirements”, “failing to perform your duties and responsibilities in a manner that reflects positively on St. John’s University…in procedures [that] He caused discredit to the “school” and “failed to supervise and communicate appropriately with the assistant coaches”.
Anderson claims St. John’s was already in advanced talks to hire Pitino when he was fired on March 10. Pitino was hired 10 days later and signed a six-year contract worth about $20 million one source told CBS Sports.
In his three seasons at Iona Pitino, he went 64-22 and helped the Gaels reach the NCAA Tournament twice. His unofficial college basketball record as head coach is 834-239, but nullifies his 123 wins during his time at Louisville.