WASHINGTON — Mike Repole, the billionaire St. John’s alum who has gotten involved again over the past year helping his former school, was following the coverage of Rick Pitino’s comments like everyone else.
And he chose Wednesday afternoon as the time to divert from all the negativity that had enveloped the fan base, breaking his own news on X that he planned to donate seven figures for the Johnnies’ Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) deals for next season.
“I’m going to commit whatever it takes,” Repole told The Post in a phone interview Wednesday night. “I don’t think there’s going to be any alumni from any other Big East school that’s going to give to their alma mater more than I can. If there is, I would like to meet him. I just want to make sure everybody knows that.”
boost the Johnnies’ in the NIL front. MPNC
After Sunday’s loss to Seton Hall, St. John’s eighth in 10 games, a frustrated Pitino called this season “the most unenjoyable experience of my life.” He recited the physical shortcomings of several players. It became national news, and Pitino apologized for it after Wednesday’s 90-85 win over Georgetown.
Repole, though, found it refreshing.
It reminded him of his WFAN interview in 2019 when he blasted the school for its coaching search that resulted in the hiring of Mike Anderson.
“Rick’s rant the other day was probably no different from my rant five years ago,” said the Vitamin Water co-founder, business mogul and Queens native. “I loved it. How amazing was it that St. John’s has a coach that wants to win so badly?”
“He’s a Hall of Fame coach. He knows how to motivate. He knows what he’s doing.”
Repole was fully on board with the decision to bring in Pitino.
At that point, he began to get involved again.
The two have known each other for more than 15 years through their shared love of horse racing.
He donated money for this year’s team, though not nearly as much as he is planning to for next season, and has been on campus multiple times to meet with president the Rev. Brian Shanley and Board of Trustees chair William Janetschek as the relationship between St. John’s and Repole continues to mend.
“Father Shanley and Bill Janetschek and [athletic director] Mike Cragg stuck their neck out with a hire like Rick, and Rick really stuck his neck out by taking on this challenge at 71 years old,” Repole said. “And you know what? I’m just ready to make sure that most people know I’m in, I’m all in.
“We all wanted Rick, we all wanted this. We need to sell out the Garden, we need to go to the games, we need to watch. This fan base was very excited [about the hire]. You got what you wanted. Everyone can make a big difference, man. I just felt it was a great time to rally the troops.”