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St. John’s is honoring the late Kenny Klein this season by keeping the seat next to Coach Rick Pitino at the scorer’s table empty and adding a black band onto their jerseys with the letters, “K.K.”
The Sports Information Hall of Famer died June 25 at age 66 after a tragic episode at a dinner a few weeks prior. Klein retired in 2022 after spending nearly 40 years at Louisville. He helped out his close friend Pitino at St. John’s the past two years in the communications department.
“His wife [Donna] is going to be with us both home and away, which is big for us. On a personal level, it’s been a really horrendous summer,” Pitino said after St. John’s 104-99 exhibition victory over Rutgers in quadruple overtime at the Garden. “Not since 9/11 have I felt so sad, losing a person right in front of you who I love so much. We’ll keep honoring him. I keep thinking of him. My heart breaks for his wife. I miss him terribly.”
Throughout last season, Pitino promised Klein he would continue to coach as long as Klein stayed on with him at St. John’s.
“I believe he would’ve stayed,” Pitino said. “It’s sad, but life can be very sad. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. It’s a moment I cry about all the time. … We got to fight through it. Kenny would want us to fight through it.”
St. John’s unveiled a Ring of Honor at the Garden on Sunday. The 10 members are also part of the Legacy Honors, created in 2006. The current names are: Lou Carnesecca, Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson, Sonny Dove, Tony Jackson, Joe Lapchick, Dick McGuire, Malik Sealy and Alan Seiden.
At some point this season, there will be a ceremony adding Zuby Ejiofor to the Ring of Honor. There is also talk of retiring jersey numbers, something St. John’s hasn’t previously done, according to athletic director Ed Kull.