The sports world is mourning St. John's legend Lou Carnesecca, who was the head coach of the Red Storm basketball team for 24 years, who passed away Saturday afternoon.
He was 99 years old.
Following news of his passing, sports media luminaries, fellow coaches and longtime fans visited X to pay tribute to one of the most beloved figures in college basketball history.
Mets play-by-play announcer Written by Howie Rose“In early 1973, as a nervous freshman at Queen's University, I interviewed Lou on the QC radio station after a Nets game. I referred to Nets guard George Bruns as George Burns. Louie couldn't have been more kind and eased my nerves with his reassuring smile. What a dear, kind man.
In the second post, added rose: “Another Lou story. My friend Dave lost his parents within a year of each other in the early 1970s. He went to St. John's and became manager of the basketball team. Lou was virtually Lou Carnesecca, who adopted Dave and became a father figure to him, was a special man beyond BB Court.
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale He wrote in part that Carnesecca was “one of a kind.”
Fox Sports” John Fanta He added, “You can't tell the story of college basketball, the Big East, or New York City hoops without Louie from St. John's University. 526 wins in 24 years. Never a losing season. 1985 Final Four. .2 national championships. [Coach of the Year award winner]. Always unique. ”
said Ed Cooley, head coach of Georgetown, the Red Storm's Big East rival. share“From our Hoya family, we send our condolences to Coach Lou Carnesecca and those nearest and dearest to St. John's basketball. One of the pioneers of the BIG EAST Conference, he was a great leader in this great league. He will be truly missed by everyone in the basketball world.”
Fans who came to watch Carnesecca's championship-winning team also paid their respects to the late coach.
“I know we can't live forever, but every time a symbol of my youth dies, I feel a part of me die.” someone wrote. “The early days of the Big East were great. They had the best teams, rivalries and coaches. Those coaches were like uncles to me as a kid.”
“Rest in Peace Lou Carnesecca” shared another one. “As a kid, the first college basketball team I was drawn to was the St. John's team of the late '80s and early '90s. I was coached by LC nine times in New York. He was a St. John's legend. Not only is he a legend in the Big East.”
Carnesecca retired from coaching in 1992 after leading the Red Storm for 24 seasons and briefly working on the bench for the then-Long Island Nets.
Shortly thereafter, he returned to his home in St. John's, set up an office on the Queen's campus, and served as assistant dean.
He was a regular at Red Storm basketball games until 2022.
Carnesecca, who would have turned 100 on January 5, is survived by his wife Mary and daughter Enes.
