Pete Carril the legendary coach for the Princeton men’s basketball program for 29 years passed away Monday at the age of 92. Carril teams played the power programs tough and especially in the NCAA Tournament. In 1989 the 16th seed Princeton Tigers team gave top seed Georgetown a major scare in the opening round. However in 1996 he pull the upset by beating defending NCAA Champion UCLA in the first round in which that was Carril final season as head coach. Carril earned 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Princeton University released a statement from Carril’s family on Monday announcing the legendary coach’s death. ”The Carril family is sad to report that Coach Peter J. Carril passed away peacefully this morning. We kindly ask that you please respect our privacy at this time as we process our loss and handle necessary arrangements. More information will be forthcoming in the following days.”Pete Carril family statement on passing of legendary coach”
Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, back in 1930, Carril played basketball at Lafayette College before serving in the United States Army in Korea shortly after the war ended. He ultimately became the head coach at Easton Area High School and Reading Senior High School in Pennsylvania before taking the job at Princeton.
