Rick Pitino has been hired as head basketball coach at St. John’s, school officials announced Monday.

The 70-year-old Pitino spent the last three seasons at Iona, which he took to the NCAA tournament this year. In more than 40 years as a college head coach, Pitino has reached the Final Four seven times and won national championships at both Kentucky (1996) and Louisville (2013).

“I am delighted to welcome Rick Pitino and his family to the St. John’s family,” St. John’s president Brian J. Shanley said. “I am excited that this seasoned coaching veteran—who has won at the highest levels and is as passionate as ever — is committed to leading our student-athletes and our program to national prominence. Rick knows Big East basketball and is determined to take and keep the Red Storm program where we know it belongs.”

St. John’s was a national power under legendary coach Lou Carnesecca for several decades, including Final Four berths in 1952 and 1985. The Red Storm has made the NCAA tournament just three times since 2002, however, and finished 18-15 this season under former coach Mike Anderson.

Pitino spent two seasons in the mid-1980s at Providence, a fellow member of the Big East with St. John’s. Pitino’s 1987 Providence team made the Final Four.

“One of my great coaching memories was having the distinct privilege of coaching against Lou Carnesecca and St John’s, a Hall of Fame coach and historic program that I have always respected,” Pitino said. “It is surreal to now have this opportunity to bring St John’s back to prominence. I’m honored, humbled and grateful to Fr. Shanley, Bill Janetschek and Mike Cragg for making me feel so special.”

In more than 30 years as a college head coach, Pitino has won 711 games. He has also been head coach in the NBA with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics and also coached a professional team in Greece.

Pitino ran afoul of the NCAA while at Louisville, with the Cardinals’ 2012 and 2013 Final Four berths and 2013 national title vacated by the NCAA. He was fired in 2017 after being accused of breaching his contract amid an FBI investigation into college basketball corruption.