Pitino is the primary St. John’s coach within the faculty’s historical past to earn the celebrated honor and the fifth from the Huge East Convention. Pearl is just 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 need to share the illustrious title? Have been Auburn and St. John’s 2024-25 seasons equally as outstanding?
Whereas Pearl and Auburn dominated a stacked SEC, incomes the common season title and now racking up a school-record 32 wins, the Tigers have been an already established powerhouse. Pearl took the group to the 2019 Closing 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 Huge 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 completed with now six totally different packages.
“While you go from final season making an attempt to present away tickets… to having each seat offered out… [it’s] a fantastic thrill for St. John’s,” Pitino informed insider Andy Katz on Monday about incomes the award.
There is not any discounting what Pearl achieved at Auburn this season and there is an argument to be made that Pitino’s title inflates his resume barely, particularly contemplating Pearl has the Tigers within the Closing 4 and the Pink Storm fizzled out within the second spherical.
However the sort of turnaround Pitino orchestrated may be likened to that seen on the faculty soccer aspect of issues in 2024 with Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.
Now, the latter earned that award and obtained some harsh backlash (no convention title, misplaced within the first spherical of the CFP), however the level nonetheless stands that the dignity was thought of for management surrounding a program that was revitalized.
Pitino meets that standards however Pearl additionally sustained a dominant, profitable tradition in essentially the most aggressive convention within the sport this season. Just one factor is for certain, the AP voters had a troublesome option to make however destiny decided it merely should not.
