**Pitino Calls for Disbanding of NCAA Enforcement**
Amidst NIL and transfer portal issues, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino argues the NCAA’s enforcement arm is obsolete.
**St. John’s Red Storm**
St. John’s men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the NCAA’s enforcement arm, describing it as a “joke” in a recent USA Today interview.
In his first season with the Red Storm, Pitino, a native New Yorker, is grappling with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations alongside other college coaches.
While Pitino supports NIL, he criticizes the NCAA’s rule enforcement.
“I think the NCAA enforcement staff should be disbanded. It’s a joke. Not because I dislike them, but they’re of no value anymore,” Pitino stated.
The NCAA faces numerous lawsuits and investigations, including a recent probe into Tennessee for alleged NIL violations in player recruitment. In response, Tennessee and Virginia are suing the NCAA, challenging its NIL ban.
These bans were lifted following the NCAA vs. Alston decision, which allowed players to benefit from NIL.
The transfer portal is another significant concern. The NCAA is re-evaluating transfer windows and rules, potentially ending the waiver process, which has forced many student-athletes to either sit out a year or take legal action to play.
Pitino foresees ongoing issues if the waiver process is eliminated, likening it to free agency in college basketball.
“It’s a very difficult time in college basketball because it’s free agency,” Pitino said. “And now I think what’s going to happen is, they’re going to say everybody can transfer, and then if they don’t like it, they’re going to take ’em to court.”
Legal battles are expected to continue until a decisive resolution is reached.
