Steve Lavin and St. John's Part Ways: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The St. John’s basketball program made the NCAA tournament this season, but it will look much different at the start of the 2015-16 campaign.  

ESPN’s Dana O’Neil tweeted Friday that “St Johns announces Steve Lavin out as head coach. Mutually agree to part ways.”

Lavin was there for five seasons and helped the Red Storm reach the Big Dance twice (this year and in 2010-11) and the NIT twice. His team cracked The Associated Press Top 25 this season and climbed as high as No. 15, although it lost in the round of 64 to San Diego State.

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

ESPN.com pointed out that “Lavin met with school officials multiple times this week. ... Lavin and the school were deep into talks on a contract extension.”

The timing is interesting to say the least, considering the extension talks. It's safe to say the two sides didn't come to an agreement, and now they are going their separate ways.

St. John’s athletic director Chris Monasch issued a statement, per the ESPN.com report, saying: "Coach Lavin returned high expectations to our men's basketball program and represented St. John's in a positive way. We appreciate his commitment to the program and to our student-athletes over the past five years."

Lavin himself also provided a quote, per the same report, and he tweeted out that he will be taking more than just memories away from his tenure at St. John’s:

"

In life change is inevitable, so I take the long view. I'm grateful for my time teaching at St. John's University. I will take with me the lasting friendships forged during my tenure as head coach. I'm proud of our results both on and off the court -- in particular our memorable runs to the NCAA tournament in 2011 and 2015.

"

Now it is time for the Red Storm to turn their attention toward the future as they try to build on this season’s tournament run and establish a consistent winner in the Big East. 

Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv provided a handful of potential candidates to take over the coaching duties:

Chris Mullin immediately jumps out when it comes to the Red Storm, considering he led the team to the 1985 Final Four and is on the short list of greatest players to ever lace it up for the school. He is certainly intricately familiar with the basketball program and would give St. John’s a marquee name on the recruiting trail.

Richard Pitino is also a head-turning candidate, largely because of the Pitino name. Pitino currently coaches for the University of Minnesota.

As for Lavin, Doug Haller of AZCentral.com reported that Arizona State could be a potential landing place:

It will be interesting to see what Lavin’s next step will be. He coached at UCLA for seven seasons, took some time off to be an ESPN commentator and then accepted the St. John’s position.