Legendary St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca died at 99 on Saturday, only a few weeks shy of his a hundredth birthday.
St. John’s stated the college was notified by a member of the family that Carnesecca died in a hospital, surrounded by family members. The college stated the Corridor of Fame coach “endeared himself to generations of New Yorkers with his wit and warmth.”
Carnesecca coached St. John’s for twenty-four seasons over two stints — making the postseason event every year — and have become the face of the college situated in Queens. The campus area was named after him and the college unveiled a statue of him earlier than the 2021-22 season. When requested as soon as in a question-and-answer session with the college to explain St. John’s, Carnesecca stated: “home.”
In Memoriam of Lou Carnesecca (1925-2024) pic.twitter.com/wpSon2v9k2
It was residence the place he coached St. John’s to 18 seasons of no less than 20 wins, and 18 NCAA Match appearances. It was residence the place he completed with a 526-200 file and had 30-win seasons in 1985 and 1986. And it was residence the place St. John’s grew to become a constitution member of the Huge East Convention and a pillar of its success.
He was the coach of the 12 months 3 times in a league that started play in 1979 and shortly asserted itself as one of many nation’s greatest. Amongst his star gamers throughout these early Huge East years have been Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson and Walter Berry.
Carnesecca coached St. John’s to its fifth NIT title in 1989, though by then the event had lengthy been a poor cousin to the NCAAs. He entered the Basketball Corridor of Fame in 1992, the 12 months he retired.
“I never scored a basket,” he stated at his induction. “The players did everything. Without players, you can’t have a game.”
Below Carnesecca, St. John’s received Huge East Match titles in 1983 and 1986. His groups reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Match in 1979 and 1991. And his squad spent greater than 70 weeks ranked within the high 10 of the AP High 25. A banner denoting his 526 wins at St. John’s hangs from the rafters at Madison Sq. Backyard, the world’s most well-known area.
He coached greater than 40 NBA draft picks, together with 11 hoopers who have been chosen as first-rounders.
“I don’t know if there’s anybody else in coaching like him,” longtime UConn coach Jim Calhoun as soon as instructed the Hartford Courant. “Even if people hate the Big East nobody hates Looie. If you like basketball, you like Looie. If you like kids, you like Looie.”
St. John’s stated Carnesecca leaves behind his spouse of 73 years, Mary, in addition to daughter Enes and son-in-law Gerard, a granddaughter, and a niece and nephew along with prolonged household.
Initially Printed: December 1, 2024 at 10:14 AM EST
