Anderson sued the university for over $45 million after being fired for cause in 2023
St. John’s men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson resolved his wrongful termination lawsuit with the school on Wednesday, announcing the agreement in a joint statement delivered by both parties’ representation. Zach Braziller of the New York Post first reported the news.
NEWS: St John’s and former coach Mike Anderson have come to an agreement. Statement: #sjubb pic.twitter.com/jR3KZxU1LF
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) November 6, 2024
St. John’s fired Anderson on March 10, 2023, one day after the Red Storm lost to Marquette in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals.
Two months later, Anderson sued the school for $45.6 million — $11.4 million for what was reportedly left on his contract at the time and $34.2 million in punitive damages, claiming the university wrongfully fired him for cause to avoid paying his buyout and using the saved money to hire Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino, who the school officially hired on March 20, 2023, according to arbitration documents obtained by ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.
Details of the case’s arguments can be found in Myron Medcalf’s initial report from May 2023 here.
In four seasons as the St. John’s men’s basketball head coach, Anderson held a record of 68-56 overall and 30-46 in the Big East, failing to win 20 games or make the NCAA tournament once in his tenure.
Anderson won the Big East Coach of the Year award in 2021 after leading the Red Storm to a 10-9 conference record in a COVID pandemic-affected season, their only winning season in the Big East under Anderson.
The agreement’s specifics are unclear at this moment.