Former St. John’s men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson is expected to file a lawsuit against the school after St. John’s fired him “for cause,” ESPN’s Myron Medcalf reported Monday. The Red Storm would owe Anderson $11 million had they not designated Anderson a for-cause firing.
According to ESPN, St. John’s claimed Anderson was fired for failing to encourage athletes to meet academic standards, not properly supervising his assistants and not doing his job in a way “that reflected positively on St. John’s University.”
In response, Anderson told ESPN he does not agree with the school’s withholding the money and firing him in that manner.
“I vehemently disagree with the university’s decision to terminate my contract for cause,” Anderson said. “The for cause accusation is wholly without merit and I will be aggressively defending my contractual rights through an arbitration process.”
Anderson coached St. John’s for four years, leading the Red Storm to a 68–56 record in that span. He has also helmed UAB, Missouri and Arkansas in his 21-year head coaching career.
After firing Anderson, St. John’s already reportedly has its eyes set on its next coach, as the Red Storm and Iona coach Rick Pitino reportedly met about the vacancy over the weekend.
