Pitino is the primary St. John’s coach within the faculty’s historical past to earn the distinguished honor and the fifth from the Large East Convention. Pearl is barely the second in Auburn’s historical past, the primary since Cliff Ellis in 1999, and the primary SEC coach since John Calipari in 2015 to be named such.
However do each bench bosses should share the illustrious title? Have been Auburn and St. John’s 2024-25 seasons equally as exceptional?
Whereas Pearl and Auburn dominated a stacked SEC, incomes the common season title and now racking up a school-record 32 wins, the Tigers had been an already established powerhouse. Pearl took the group to the 2019 Last 4 and competed in six of the final eight NCAA Tournaments.
Pitino arrived at St. John’s and after simply two seasons, returned the as soon as Large East stalwart to its former glory with common season and match titles for the primary time since 1992 and 2000, respectively. That is the signature Pitino turnaround, one thing he is performed with now six completely different applications.
“If you go from final season attempting to provide away tickets… to having each seat offered out… [it’s] an incredible thrill for St. John’s,” Pitino informed insider Andy Katz on Monday about incomes the award.
There is not any discounting what Pearl completed at Auburn this season and there is an argument to be made that Pitino’s identify inflates his resume barely, particularly contemplating Pearl has the Tigers within the Last 4 and the Purple Storm fizzled out within the second spherical.
However the type of turnaround Pitino orchestrated could be likened to that seen on the faculty soccer facet of issues in 2024 with Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.
Now, the latter earned that award and acquired some harsh backlash (no convention title, misplaced within the first spherical of the CFP), however the level nonetheless stands that the distinction was thought-about for management surrounding a program that was revitalized.
Pitino meets that standards however Pearl additionally sustained a dominant, successful tradition in essentially the most aggressive convention within the sport this season. Just one factor is for positive, the AP voters had a tricky option to make however destiny decided it merely should not.
