Billionaire booster Mike Repole pledges to help build St. John's 'dynasty' after painful March Madness exit

Repole says he has already committed more funding to the Red Storm for next season after their Sweet 16 loss to Duke.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:49pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the intensity and energy of a college basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of red, blue, and gold representing the St. John's Red Storm team.Billionaire booster Mike Repole's continued investment aims to propel St. John's basketball to new heights after their heartbreaking March Madness exit.NYC Today

St. John's season ended in heartbreak with an 80-75 loss to Duke in the Sweet 16, but billionaire booster Mike Repole is ready to keep investing in the program's future. Repole, who donated over $5 million to the Red Storm this year, has already pledged more funding for next season as he aims to help build a 'dynasty' at St. John's under coach Rick Pitino.

Why it matters

St. John's has emerged as a rising power in college basketball, winning back-to-back Big East titles. With Repole's deep pockets and Pitino's coaching expertise, the Red Storm are poised to sustain their success and potentially become a national powerhouse again after decades of struggle.

The details

Despite the tough loss to Duke, Repole is excited about the direction of the St. John's program. He has already committed more funding to the athletic department and coaching staff for next season, saying he wants to build a 'dynasty' that lasts 5-10 years. Repole, the founder of Vitaminwater and BodyArmor, urged other donors to contribute even small amounts to help the Red Storm compete in the increasingly competitive NIL landscape.

  • St. John's lost to Duke 80-75 in the Sweet 16 on March 27, 2026.
  • Repole recently told The New York Post that he donated over $5 million to the Red Storm basketball program this season.

The players

Mike Repole

A billionaire businessman and booster who has pledged significant financial support to help rebuild the St. John's basketball program.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's Red Storm, who has guided the team to back-to-back Big East titles and their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999.

Ed Kull

The athletics director at St. John's University, who has worked closely with Repole and Pitino to invest in the basketball program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm really excited not only for this year but also next year. I've already committed my pledge to (athletics director) Ed Kull and the athletic department and Rick Pitino and the team for next year. We don't want this to be a one- or two-year thing. We want to build a dynasty here for the next 5-10 years.”

— Mike Repole, Billionaire booster

“I could never express how much I HATE losing!!!! Thank you @RealPitino, @steve_masiello, @EdKullStJohnsAD, all the coaches, staff, and @StJohnsBBall for an unforgettable, historic season. Playing the #1 team in the country in Sweet 16 and we battled our asses off!!!!! That's heart. That's toughness. That's St. John's.”

— Mike Repole, Billionaire booster

What’s next

Repole has pledged to continue funding the St. John's basketball program at a high level as they aim to build a national powerhouse under coach Rick Pitino. The team will look to reload through the transfer portal and NIL deals as they seek to defend their Big East titles and make another deep NCAA Tournament run.

The takeaway

St. John's has emerged as an exciting up-and-coming program in college basketball, and with the deep pockets and unwavering support of booster Mike Repole, the Red Storm have the resources to sustain their success and potentially become a national dynasty under the guidance of veteran coach Rick Pitino.