Iona's Pitino says he contracted COVID-19 in January

Iona head coach Rick Pitino contracted COVID-19 earlier this month and has since recovered, he told reporters Tuesday.

The 68-year-old Hall of Famer said he tested positive for the virus after getting the first shot of the two-dose vaccine.

"I was vaccinated, and unfortunately it takes two weeks to probably kick in where you have 50% immunity, so unfortunately it didn't work totally with me and we move on," Pitino told the New York Times' Adam Zagoria.

"I'm fine, I'm out of quarantine," he said. "I was very lucky. I didn’t have the severe symptoms that many people have had and I’m ready to go."

In November, Pitino publicly urged the NCAA to delay the start of the season due to the ongoing pandemic, proposing "May Madness."

With the program on pause, Iona hasn't played a game since Dec. 23. But that didn't stop the virus from spreading among his team, Pitino said Tuesday.

"We've been in a semi-bubble - no students on campus, and we've had a major outbreak," Pitino told "The Michael Kay Show."

"Now the students have come back, so I am overly concerned about that," he added.