Iona coach Pitino says he had COVID-19

Iona men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino said on Tuesday’s MAAC media zoom that he tested positive for Covid-19 recently and is recovering.

Pitino, 68, revealed he learned of the positive test after he received the first of two vaccination shots and then quarantined in an apartment on the Iona campus.

The Gaels (5-3, 3-1) haven’t played since Dec. 23 and have been on pause since Jan. 16. They are next scheduled to play on Feb. 3 at home against Manhattan.

“It’s frustrating, but I knew it would be,” Pitino said. “I’m more concerned because we’ve had three pauses with nobody on campus and now the students come back.”

Pitino estimated that about half his team has contracted the virus. He said the first four or five cases were all asymptoamtic, but recently those who tested positive have been symptomatic.

“I knew this was going to happen,” Pitino said. “There’s no crystal ball that I have, everybody knew this was going to happen. We were all very concerned about that. We are very blessed compared to the 400,000 dead and all the families who have suffered. My heart breaks for those people, and with the vaccine coming out, maybe by the summer we will have some good news.”

Pitino has been a vocal proponent of pausing the season and having “May Madness.” The NCAA plans to forge ahead with its tournament, which is scheduled to run from March 18-April 5 in Indianapolis.

“The only way for us to get through this unscathed is for every single member of the basketball team to catch it, which is not the case,” Pitino said. “I don’t have a lot of positive thoughts going forward on the situation, but we’ll do the best we can.”