- ABC News
- December 1, 2024
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 school announced the news with a statement Saturday night, saying Carnesecca was surrounded by family when he died. Replacing another Hall of Famer, longtime St. John's coach Joe Lapchick, Carnesecca took over the program in 1965 and brought the school to national prominence over two stints. He initially coached the program from 1965 to 1970, going 104-35 before departing to become head coach of the ABA's New York Nets. But after three largely successful seasons in the pros (114-38, including a trip to the 1972 ABA finals), Carnesecca returned to St. John's, where he would stay for 19 more seasons. Stalking the sidelines in his trademark colorful sweaters, Carnesecca brought his St. John's teams to the postseason every season, including 18 appearances in the NCAA tourney and an NIT...