St. John's plans to hire Rick Pitino, the head basketball coach

FOX Sports has been informed by sources that St. John's plans to hire Rick Pitino, a Hall of Famer, as its next basketball coach.

FOX Sports has been informed by sources close to the program that the university is looking to sign a deal with the Hall of Famer within the next few days. According to reports, Pitino is interested in taking over the Red Storm. Pitino now has the ball in his court.

Pitino, 70 years old, is the only college basketball coach to have led three teams -- Louisville, Kentucky, and Providence -- to the Final Four. He has also won 711 games during his coaching career. He was a national champion in Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013. The title was later lost to the winner.

Sources tell FOX Sports that St. John's university president Brian Shanley and athletic director Mike Cragg are looking for coaches to help turn the Red Storm back into a competitive force in college basketball. Under Mike Anderson, the program has failed to win four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and has not won a big dance game in 23 years.

Pitino, who resides at Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck (N. Y.), is excited about the possibility of coaching St. John's. The course is approximately 23 miles from St. John's University campus.

This acquisition of Pitino, a St. John's basketball program that has been largely ignored by the national basketball community, is a clear sign that the Red Storm are determined to win and return to New York City.