Dan Hurley probably thought he had this one in the bag. The reigning two-time national champion, the fiery architect of UConn’s dominance, and one of the most respected minds in college basketball—who else could claim the Big East Coach of the Year award? But then came Rick Pitino, the 72-year-old legend with probably nothing left to prove, swooping in to remind everyone that whatever is left, he will take it.

Dan Hurley took over UConn’s men’s basketball program in 2018, inheriting a team that was more a “rebuilding project” than a “powerhouse.” But with his signature intensity, he put in massive efforts. They paid off when UConn won back-to-back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024. And UConn showed its appreciation the best way possible: with a six-year, $50 million contract extension in July 2024. Not too shabby.

But this deal wasn’t just about a cushy base salary—it came loaded with performance bonuses, like an extra $25,000 for winning conference coach of the year and a cool $100,000 for taking home national coach of the year honors. After all, nothing says “great job” quite like a direct deposit with extra zeroes. He grabbed the first one last season after guiding the Huskies to their 5th national championship in the program’s history. This year, however, Pitino was like- Let’s take money straight from Hurley’s pocket AGAIN! 

St. John’s made it official on X:

“𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑. Coach Rick Pitino has been named the 2025 @BIGEASTMBB Coach of the Year 👏🏆.” St. John’s fans went wild. Hurley? Not so much. He probably checked his bank account and sighed.

This must have stung big time, considering that Hurley also missed out on another $100,000 when Pitino led St. John’s to the Big East regular-season title. Hurley’s contract includes a six-figure bonus for winning the regular-season crown. But Pitino’s squad went 17-2 in conference play — the most Big East wins ever for St. John’s — locking up the title and Hurley’s bonus with it. Six figures gone. Just like that.

With St. John’s back in the national spotlight under Pitino, the Big East’s financial and media landscape isn’t just UConn’s playground anymore. Once the undisputed face of the conference, Hurley’s Huskies now have to fight for primetime TV slots, sponsorships, and their share of the revenue pie. Brands and networks chase the hottest storylines, and right now, Pitino’s St. John’s revival is stealing the show. Even in recruiting, Pitino is out there working the NIL game like a Wall Street shark, snatching the top talent Hurley had his eyes on. For Hurley, that means fewer guaranteed wins, tougher battles for bonuses, and a whole lot more Pitino-induced headaches.

And it doesn’t seem like Pitino is slowing down. His turnaround at St. John’s has been nothing short of remarkable. After the Louisville fallout, Pitino rebuilt his name at Iona, leading them to two NCAA Tournaments. St. John’s took a gamble in 2023, but Pitino’s track record made it worth the risk. It didn’t look that way early on, though. The Red Storm struggled at the start of last season and hit rock bottom after a tough home loss to Seton Hall in February. Pitino called it

“the most unenjoyable experience I’ve had since I’ve been in coaching.”

That lit a fire under the team. St. John’s ripped off six straight wins and made the Big East tournament semifinals for the first time in 24 years. Pitino didn’t waste time in the offseason, either. He landed top transfers Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall) and Deivon Smith (Utah), thanks in part to strong NIL backing from boosters like Mike Repole. St. John’s led the Big East in forced turnovers and ranked third nationally.

So, now, Hurley’s best shot at regaining some of his lost bonuses lies in the NCAA Tournament. If UConn makes a deep run, he can cash in on Final Four and championship incentives. But with St. John’s rising under Pitino, Hurley may need to start factoring his rival into his financial and game planning. It remains to be seen what cards Hurley will pull out, especially with Pitino and Co. standing in his way big time.

Pitino’s old-school approach is costing Dan Hurley big

Hurley’s Huskies built their dominance on pace, space, and three-point bombs. But Pitino? He’s got other plans. His St. John’s team is all about defensive pressure, disciplined half-court execution, and the kind of in-your-face intensity. Take the February 23rd showdown where St. John’s stunned UConn with an 89-75 victory. Hurley’s squad coughed up 18 turnovers, and Pitino’s crew happily turned them into 24 points. It was the basketball equivalent of getting pickpocketed in broad daylight.

“Madison Square Garden feels like 1985 again.” That’s how one St. John’s fan put it after the Red Storm crushed UConn. Rightly so, as Rick Pitino’s squad didn’t just beat the defending champs. They embarrassed them. Kadary Richmond dropped 18 points and shut down UConn’s backcourt. Zuby Ejiofor owned the boards. Pitino’s pressure defense smothered the Huskies. UConn had no answers. It felt like the old days when Lou Carnesecca had St. John’s on top.

Pitino’s approach feels like a blast from the past, but it’s working better than ever. His St. John’s squad leads the Big East in scoring defense, holding teams under 66 points per game and forcing turnovers at a national top-20 rate. That’s bad news for Hurley, whose system thrives when his team can run freely in transition.

And let’s talk about player development. Pitino just doesn’t lean on five-star recruits. He is out here turning overlooked guys into Big East superstars. Case in point: RJ Luis Jr., who went from a relatively unknown piece to the Big East Player of the Year—the first St. John’s player to do it since 1986. Pitino’s training methods? Grueling 40-minute position-specific workouts!

Hurley might have the national hardware, but Pitino’s got the Big East crown — and the bonus money that comes with it. If Pitino keeps this up, Hurley could lose more than just cash — he might lose control of the Big East altogether. Maybe Hurley should send Pitino a thank-you card for this wake-up call. Or maybe not. But he will surely be looking to readjust now.