If it wasn't clear how important Lou Carnesecca was to St. John's basketball and the entire New York basketball scene, just look at the memorial that graced the Madison Square Garden marquee on Sunday night.
But for longtime St. John's assistant coach Brian Mahoney, who replaced Carnesecca as head coach, the lasting memory of Carnesecca, who died Saturday at age 99, will be the impact he had on those around him. Dew. In a conversation with the Post, Mahoney recalled a time when Carnesecca approached her on the street and made time to talk to anyone who wanted it.
“We always said, 'You can run for mayor,'” Mahoney said.
But what really left a lasting impact on the former St. John's coach was Carnesecca's commitment to players who never wore a St. John's uniform.
St. John's has had great success in recruiting top talent in New York, acquiring a number of players such as Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson. But even the students who ended up attending different schools knew they had an ally in Carnesecca if they needed it.
“I remember kids who went away and spent four years at another school and then came back to Lou and said, 'Hey, coach, can you help me out?'” said Mahoney, who was Carnesecca's assistant from 1973-1978 and 1981-1992. “'I'm trying to go to Europe, I want to play in Spain or Italy, and I know you have great connections.' Lou was really kind and helped us He called to help players who had never played before.
“That's the type of person he was. He always had time for everyone.”
Carnesecca coached at St. John's for 24 seasons, returning to the program after stints in the ABA with the Nets from 1965-1970 and 1973-1992, winning each year. He led the Johnnys to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances and a Final Four appearance in 1985.
St. John's University won an NIT title under his direction in 1989, but his lasting impact stems from his personality.
“We lost an iconic figure at St. John's. His coaching expertise was second to none in basketball, but he surpassed it. Rest in Peace, Louie. He will be greatly missed,” St. John's coach Rick Pitino said in a statement released by the team.
“From the first time I met him over 20 years ago, he had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel important and like him. ” Athletic Director Edward Cull said in a statement. “Whether it was a former All-American player or a fan on the street who wanted to introduce his son or daughter to 'Louie,' he always made time for this university, this city, and… He epitomized everything that is great about the sport of basketball.
“There will never be anyone else like him and we are all better for knowing him.”
Carnesecca was born into a poor family, growing up in East Harlem and later graduating from St. John's University in 1950.
Besides Mullin and Jackson, the list of players who went through his program to play in the NBA and ABA includes Jason Williams, Bill Wennington, Billy Poeltz, George Johnson and Walter Berry.
And when it comes to attracting top talent from the region, Mahoney credited Carnesecca with that.
“He always believed in city kids because he was a city kid himself,” Mahoney said. “St. John had that tradition at an urban school and wanted to carry on that tradition. [Joe] Lapchick, and of course his huge success. And Lou just wanted to follow up and continue along those lines. ”
