St. John's men's basketball coaching legend Lou Carnesecca, who gave the instructions The program, which lasted more than 20 years, has ended, the school announced Sunday night. He was a few weeks away from his 100th birthday.
Carnesecca coached St. John's for 24 seasons over two stints. He led the team to 18 seasons, winning at least 20 games and appearing in the NCAA Tournament 18 times. His teams produced star players such as Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington, Mark Jackson, and Walter Berry.
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After the Redmen defeated Boston College in the Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 12, 1983, St. John's coach Lou Carnesecca hired the team. It will be done. (AP Photo/G. Paul Barnett, File)
St. John's University won the NIT Championship in 1989, and he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, the year he retired from the sport.
“Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca 50C, 60GEd, 00HON, who led the St. John's men's basketball team for 24 seasons and whose wit and warmth endeared him to generations of New Yorkers, passed away on Saturday surrounded by his family.” the team said.
“The legendary head coach leaves behind his beloved wife of 73 years, Mary, and his beloved family, daughter Enes, son-in-law Gerard (Jerry), granddaughter Ieva and her fiancé Frank, and beloved niece and nephew Susan. Chiesa, John Chiesa and his wife Nancy, and his extended family and close friends join in their loss.
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Former St. John's men's basketball coach Lou Carnesecca smiles during a press conference announcing the hiring of former player and retired NBA basketball All-Star Chris Mullin on April 1, 2015 in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Carnesecca replaced Joe Lapchick before the start of the 1965-66 season. He became head coach of the American Basketball Association's New York Nets in 1970, then returned to the team then known as the Redmen, replacing Frank Marzoff.
His best team was the 1984-85 team led by Mullin, Berry, Jackson and Wennington. They won 31 games in the Big East, going 15-1 and making it to the Final Four, where they lost to Patrick Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas.
The team won 31 games the following season, but lost to Auburn in the second round of the tournament.
Lou Carnesecca coaches the St. John's team against Niagara on November 23, 1991 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lenihan, File)
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Carnesecca was 526-200 in his coaching career. He won the Big East Coach of the Year Award three times and the Basketball Writers Association of America Coach of the Year Award twice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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