Posted on 12/01/2024 4:51:47 AM PST by God luvs America
Hall of Fame college basketball coach Lou Carnesecca, who won more than 500 games and led St. John's to three Big East titles and a 1985 Final Four appearance, died Saturday at the age of 99.
The university said it was notified by a family member that Carnesecca died in a hospital surrounded by his family, just a handful of weeks shy of his 100th birthday. It said Carnesecca "endeared himself to generations of New Yorkers with his wit and warmth."
Carnesecca was a treasured figure in New York sports in his day, affection for "Looie" never wavering in a city with little patience for its players, coaches, executives and owners.
He coached St. John's for 24 seasons over two stretches -- making a postseason tournament each year -- and became the face of a university whose campus arena in Queens would eventually carry his name. A statue of him was unveiled before the 2021-22 season. When asked once in a question-and-answer sit-down with the school to describe St. John's, Carnesecca said: "home."
It was home where he coached St. John's to 18 20-win seasons and 18 NCAA tournament appearances. It was home where he finished with a 526-300 record and had 30-win seasons in 1985 and 1986. And it was home where St. John's became part of the foundation of the Big East.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...
Rest In Peace, Lou.
Ronald Reagan at St John’s Alumni Hall speaking to us in 1985. As Reagan always did, he was fantastic and cracked a lot of jokes. People went nuts for him. The fun starts at the 8 minute mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W0_A2oKbTU
Thanks for that trip down memory lane. Just think what Kamala or Biden would have said.
I grew up in Jamaica, (part of Queens, New York), like Trump, went to Catholic School, and had a lot of friends who went to St. Johns. I don’t know if you are familiar with Beach 108st in Far Rockaway, back when it was a Queens B-Ball Mecca. But the Redman (I have no idea what they are called now) I remember best was Jimmy Smyth.
He was definitely one of the Beach 108th Street All-Stars.
But who didn’t like Lou Carnesecca?
They are now the Red Storm....this happened decades ago to stop “offending” the Indians. The St John’s Redman mascot was a small little indian in full headdress.
Coincidentally or not- it was at the time the changeover from Redman to Red Storm the BB program went downhill and completely sucked.
The amazing thing is everything Ronald Reagan said in that speech almost 40 years ago is happening now.
Miss him and the old ECAC. RIP Lou
67 Pirate Alum
But the sweaters live on!
RIP Lou.
From a time when college basketball was fun, before the 3-point shot ruined everything.
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