The college basketball mourns the loss of a legend with the passing of former St. John’s men’s basketball coach Lou Carnesecca.
St. John’s announced that Carnesecca passed away peacefully at the age of 99. The Lou Carnesecca tributes continue to come in at a fast and furious pace for a brilliant coach who is one of the most beloved figures in college basketball.
In Memoriam of Lou Carnesecca (1925-2024) pic.twitter.com/wpSon2v9k2
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) December 1, 2024
Carnesecca had two stints at St. John’s and in between, he coached the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame. He is a true basketball legend.
Lou Carnesecca Tributes Coming In From Basketball Legends
Carnesecca is one of the key figures in the early days of the Big East when the league became a major player in college basketball. It culminated when St. John’s joined conference rivals Georgetown and Villanova in the 1985 Final Four.
He retired in 1992 with 526 wins at St. John’s, leading the Red Storm to two Big East Tournament titles. St. John’s also won five Big East regular-season titles. The news of Carnesecca’s death quickly spread, and tributes soon followed. More tributes will follow in the coming days.
Death of Carnesecca Generating An Outpouring of Tributes
Social media was flooded with Lou Carnesecca tributes not long after St. John’s announced Carnesecca’s death. It was not unexpected, but the news still hit hard.
The Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman released a statement after Carnesecca’s death was confirmed by St. John’s.
“The Big East Conference is deeply saddened by the passing of Lou Carnesecca, a quintessential New Yorker and one of the most successful coaches in our history. His basketball accomplishments abound: 526 wins in 24 seasons, post-season bids in each of those years, the “sweater game” and other magic moments at Madison Square Garden, and the superstars he mentored along the way who are themselves part of Big East lore.
“But Coach Carnesecca’s impact extended far beyond the basketball court. He was tough, fiery and resilient, qualities he shared with the conference he helped launch, build and define. His successes propelled the Big East in its early years to the top of the college sports world. His belief in the power of basketball to define universities remains at the heart of our DNA. A tactical genius on the sidelines, Coach was equal parts teacher, mentor, master motivator, father figure, storyteller, ambassador, icon, champion and friend. He was truly beloved, and his mark on St. John’s, the Big East and college basketball will be indelible.”
Carnesecca’s Legacy Extends Beyond The Victories
Top coaches aren’t always beloved by opposing fans. However, good luck finding people who had bad words to say about Carnesecca even while he was coaching. There is no question that his popularity grew following his retirement.
One of a kind – loving caring & passionate is what I have felt about Coach Carnesecca as I loved the many conversations we had during my time @espn of covering @StJohnsBBall during his era .May COACH RIP! https://t.co/pxY5I4Nz8z
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 1, 2024
Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright, current Georgetown coach Ed Cooley and many other basketball figures offered condolences on social media. Moments of silence will be held at basketball games in the coming days in honor of Carnesecca.
Carnesecca is Part of New York Basketball History
It is impossible to tell the story of New York basketball without mentioning Carnesecca’s impact. When looking back, his coaching career started in 1950 at St. Ann’s Academy. He was 205-34 at St. Ann’s. St. Ann’s was 32-0 in Carnesecca’s final season. St. John’s hired Carnesecca in 1958 as an assistant coach at his alma mater to start a memorable run at St. John’s.
Carnesecca coached the Red Storm from 1965 to 1970 before coaching the Nets. In 1973, he returned to St. John’s and never had a losing season. Led by Chris Mullin, the 1984-85 team made history.
Sweater Game Part of Carnesecca’s Legacy
Carnesecca won 17 games in the NCAA tournament and 10 more in the NIT. The game remembered by most people is one that he lost during the magical 1984-85 college basketball season. Few games had the hype of the Feb. 27, 1985 clash with Georgetown. None of this year’s top Big East games will approach what happened on that day.
St. John’s picked up wins in 13 games in a row with Carnesecca wearing a sweater that he lovingly termed to be “ugly.” As Carnesecca came onto the court, Georgetown head coach John Thompson flung open his jacket to reveal a replica of Carnesecca’s sweater. The laughter could be heard throughout the area. Good luck finding a similar reaction to games these days.
Georgetown would win the “Sweater Game” 85-69. The Hoyas won again in the 1985 Big East Tournament Final. The Hoyas made it three wins in a row at the 1985 Final Four before falling to Villanova in the title game in one of the biggest college basketball upsets of all time. Even with the Final Four loss, New York basketball fans will never forget that 1984-85 season.
It was the highest-rated game on ESPN putting up numbers that stunned network executives. The Sweater Game is considered one of the greatest games and spectacles in Madison Square Garden history.
