Former St. John’s head coach Mike Anderson filed a lawsuit against the school saying it used money that was supposed to go to him in a purchase to hire Rick Pitino.
Anderson says the school fired him for reasons to avoid buying it. He is seeking $45.6 million from the school.
Anderson was owed $11.4 million for the remainder of his contract, so he is seeking that along with another $34.2 million in punitive damages.
ESPN reported that Anderson’s termination letter says he was fired for «failing to create and support an environment that strongly encourages student-athletes who are in the men’s basketball program to meet all college academic requirements»…» failing to fulfill their duties and responsibilities in a way that reflected positively on St. John’s University…in actions [that] brought serious disrepute» to the school and «a lack of proper supervision and communication with its assistant coaches».
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Head coach Mike Anderson of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts against the Creighton Bluejays at Carnesecca Arena on March 1, 2020 in New York City. (Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Anderson also claims the school tried to buy him out for less than the $11.4 million he had left on his deal and then concocted «fictitious» issues to fire him for cause.
«The ‘for cause’ charge is completely without merit, and I will aggressively defend my contractual rights through an arbitration process,» he said at the time.
Head Coach Rick Pitino of the Iona Gaels during the first half against the Connecticut Huskies during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, NY (C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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The school denied Anderson’s claims in a statement Thursday.
«We dispute the wildly inaccurate claims being reported in the media and will vigorously defend those claims in arbitration,» the university said.
Anderson received a six-year extension in February 2021, but the Red Storm signed Pitino shortly after he and his Iona Gaels were eliminated from the March Madness tournament by eventual national champion UConn.
The St. John’s Red Storm logo on the ground before a college basketball game at Carnesecca Arena on February 23, 2022 in New York City. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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Anderson was fired after going 68-56 in his 124 games with the university. He, too, went 30-46 in the Big East and never made the NCAA Tournament.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.