A ceremonial sword and a bullhorn were stolen from the office of Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino at St. John’s University, according to a spokesperson for the Catholic institution located in Queens, New York, on Thursday.
The theft occurred on Tuesday night, shortly before 8 p.m., at the athletics department offices situated above the hardwood court of Carnesecca Arena, where Pitino’s team, the Red Storm, competes.
Brian Browne, the university’s spokesperson, indicated that the police are currently investigating the incident. It remains uncertain whether additional items were taken from the coach’s office or other areas within the building.
According to the police statement, two men gained unauthorized access to the premises and made off with several items before escaping on a moped, heading west on Union Turnpike.
While further details were not provided, authorities released surveillance footage showing the suspects walking down a hallway, with one carrying the ceremonial sword and the other clutching the bullhorn.
Pitino, a celebrated coach, has a distinguished history, having led teams to NCAA championships at Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013, although the latter title was later vacated due to NCAA violations.
His career faced challenges, including being dismissed from Louisville in 2017 amid an FBI investigation into college basketball recruiting corruption; however, the NCAA eventually cleared his name.
Prior to his tenure at St. John’s, the 71-year-old coach spent three seasons at Iona College, a small Catholic institution located just north of New York City.
Pitino’s extensive coaching resume also includes positions with the NBA’s New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, as well as stints at Boston University, Providence College, and Panathinaikos, a professional team based in Athens, Greece.
