Lou Carnesecca who was an iconic figure in the college basketball coaching ranks died at the age of 99. Carnesecca became the face of St. John’s and made a difference to student athletes. He was very warm and care about other people.
He guided St. John’s to a record of 526-200, including 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, the 1985 Final Four and the Elite Eight in 1979 and 1991. The Redmen captured Big East titles in 1983 and 1986 as well as the NIT championship in 1989. In his 24 years with the Johnnies, he never had a losing record.
He helped emerge players to the NBA with the likes of Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Bill Wennington, Mark Jackson, Jayson Williams, Malik Sealy and other players from the program. He helped put the Big East Conference on the map with his teams being competitive every season. He was a legend among the elite that included former commissioner Dave Gavitt, Georgetown’s John Thompson, Villanova’s Rollie Massimino, Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, UConn’s Jim Calhoun, Seton Hall’s P.J. Carlesimo and Providence’s and current St. John’s coach Rick Pitino.
Carnesecca was a two time National Coach of the Year, and three time Big East Coach of the Year was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 1992. He will be missed not only in the New York City community, but in the world of basketball.
