Sources: Pitino in serious discussions to be St. John's coach

Iona's Rick Pitino met with St. John's officials on Sunday, and the sides remain in serious discussions about him becoming the school's next men's basketball coach, sources told ESPN.

Some clarity from Pitino is expected early this week, as he's been the school's primary target since it fired Mike Anderson on March 10. Nothing has changed for St. John's, which needed to wait for Iona to lose in the NCAA tournament before it could begin formal discussions.

The meeting with St. John's on Sunday served as a way for the sides to get to know each other more formally and the meeting was viewed as productive, sources told ESPN.

Pitino, 70, laid out his vision for the program to St. John's officials, a source told ESPN. Pitino engaged with St. John's officials about the school's commitment, as sources said he would be taking the job with the intention to compete for Big East championships and the national title. That will require significant support both for the program and in the name image and likeness space. And both sides chatted about what's needed for the program going forward.

During the NCAA tournament in Albany, New York, Pitino essentially acknowledged that he'd have the chance to be the coach at St. John's. He even hinted in his news conference at the timeline that's unfolded, as he told a story that he hadn't been to the school since 1987 when Providence College won a game there on a controversial call. Pitino joked that he told then PC star Billy Donovan to jump in the shower with his shoes on so Providence didn't have to come back on the court to play the final second.

«That was the last thing I remember about being at St. John's,» he said. «That was 1987, guys. 1987. So, I don't remember too much about it, to tell