By ADAM ZAGORIA
Rick Pitino is adding one of his former Louisville stars to his St. John’s staff.
Peyton Siva, a co-captain on Pitino’s 2013 NCAA championship team at Louisville, will join the Red Storm as an assistant coach under Pitino, ZAGSBLOG first reported.
“It was honestly one of the most difficult decisions I made in my life, making the call to Coach [Pat] Kelsey, someone who gave me an opportunity in this coaching world,” Siva told The New York Post. “It was tough. It was tough not only to make that call, but make the call to leave Louisville. A couple of sleepless nights. But I think it was the right decision and the best decision for my family and myself.”
Former Louisville star and current Louisville asst coach Peyton Siva is expected to join Rick Pitino’s staff at @StJohnsBBall as an asst, per sources
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) August 1, 2026
Siva helped lead Louisville to the 2013 NCAA title under Pitino https://t.co/ogemHD5HEI
Pitino, the 73-year-old Naismith Hall of Famer, has long been a fan of Siva’s and mentions him regularly as a role model for his current players.
Siva, 35, had been on Louisville coach Pat Kelsey’s staff for two years, one as an assistant.
“Obviously, the biggest thing was getting a chance to work under Coach Pitino as a coach,” Siva said. “I think Coach is top three, if not the best college coach of all time. To get a chance to work under him would be amazing, especially breaking into this coaching world and breaking into this coach profession, there’s no one better to work for and to work under and to learn from.”
Siva was drafted 56th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons and also played for the Orlando Magic and overseas before entering coaching.
Siva’s addition to Pitino’s staff is the latest change to the St. John’s staff. Associate head coach Steve Masiello has assumed responsibilities as the team’s GM since June when interim Tom Ostrom departed.
St. John’s is the two-time Big East regular-season and tournament champion. The Red Storm has a new-look roster this season as it looks to contend with UConn, Marquette and other teams for more Big East hardware.
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