Lou Carnesecca
Luigi P. Carnesecca (born January 5, 1925) is an American retired college basketball coach at St. John's University. Carnesecca also coached at the professional level, leading the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association for three seasons. Carnesecca was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 5, 1925 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1950–1958 | St. Ann's Academy HS |
| 1958–1965 | St. John's (assistant) |
| 1965–1970 | St. John's |
| 1970–1973 | New York Nets |
| 1973–1992 | St. John's |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 205–34 (high school) 526–200 (college) 114–138 (ABA) |
| Tournaments | 17–20 (NCAA Division I) 10–6 (NIT) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| NCAA Division I Regional – Final Four (1985) NIT (1989) 5 Big East regular season (1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1992) 2 Big East tournament (1983, 1986) 2 CHSAA (1952, 1958) | |
| Awards | |
| 2× Henry Iba Award (1983, 1985) NABC Coach of the Year (1983) UPI Coach of the Year (1985) 3× Big East Coach of the Year (1983, 1985, 1986) | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 1992 (profile) | |
| College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006 | |
He coached the St. John's basketball program to 526 wins and 200 losses over 24 seasons (1965–70, 1973–92). The colorful "Looie" (as he was popularly known by fans and by the media) reached the post-season in every season he coached the team, including a Final Four appearance in 1985. He was selected as the National Coach of the Year in 1983, and 1985 by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Carnesecca is widely known for his sense of humor and his signature sweaters. In November 2004, St. John's University officially dedicated and renamed the historic Alumni Hall to Carnesecca Arena.