Lou Carnesecca, St. John’s and Big East basketball legend, dies at 99

Lou Carnesecca, the hoarse-voiced, sweater-wearing St. John’s basketball coach and godfather of the Big East whose powerhouse teams helped propel the league to glory, died Saturday at age 99, the university announced.

During two tours at the helm, 1965-70 and 1973-92, Carnesecca led St. John’s to a 526-200 record, including 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, the 1985 Final Four and the Elite Eight in 1979 and 1991. His Johnnies won The 1983 and 1986 Big East titles and the 1989 NIT crown. In his 24 appearances he never recorded a losing record.

Superstars to emerge from his program included National Players of the Year Chris Mullin and Walter Berry, New York Knicks point guard Mark Jackson and the late Malik Sealy. He helped put the Big East on the map, not only with a team that could light up the scoreboard, but also with Big Apple-style charisma as a senior statesman among a cast of legendary characters that included the founding commissioner Dave Gavitt, Georgetown’s John Thompson and Villanova’s Rollie were joined by Massimino, Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, UConn’s Jim Calhoun, Seton Hall’s PJ Carlesimo and Providence’s Rick Pitino, whose return in The Big East as St. John’s current coach had Looies’ full blessing.

Carnesecca, a two-time National Coach of the Year honoree, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 1992. Until last season, he continued to be a regular player on the sidelines of the arena named after him.

“Coach Carnesecca’s influence extended far beyond the basketball court,” Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said in a statement. “He was tough, fiery and resilient, traits he shared with the conference he created, built and defined. His successes propelled the Big East to the top of the collegiate sports world in its early years, and his belief in the power of basketball.” Defining universities remains at the heart of our DNA. 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.”