Pitino's Magic: St. John's Success Amidst Scandals

0:00On March 27, Rick Patino has a knack for turning college basketball programs around fast. From Boston University to Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, Iona, and now St. John's, teams often make big jumps in his second year. This season, at St. John's in Queens, the red storm earned a five-seed in the 2026 NCAA tournament after just four losses last year, all. By combining seven points, earlier this decade, Patino's time at Louisville got messy with scandals. In 2003, he had a brief encounter with a waitress named Karen Cipher at an Italian restaurant. She later claimed pregnancy, and he gave her $3,000 for medical bills, which she used for an abortion. Cipher, who was dating and later married a Louisville equipment manager, tried to extort him for cars, a house, and up to $10 million. The fallout drew heavy scrutiny, but Patino apologized, stayed married to his wife, Joanne, since 1976, and kept coaching the cardinals. Cipher ended up convicted of extortion and lying to federal agents, serving 87 months

1:04in prison before release in 2017. Meanwhile, two other Louisville issues piled on. The NCAA vacated their 2013 national title over recruits getting improper benefits from paid strippers. Then in 2017, a federal probe revealed pay for play schemes, including $100,000 funneled to a recruit, leading to. Patino's firing, even as similar dealings became common later, with name, image, and likeness rules. Today, Patino's success at St. John's shows his coaching magic indoors, baggage and all, as the sport keeps evolving.