Asbury Park Press – After his passing Saturday at age 99, former St. John’s basketball coach Lou Carnesecca was hailed as a prodigious winner, a first-rate character, and a founding godfather of the Big East Conference.
P.J. Carlesimo would add something else.
“He was a mentor to me and hundreds and hundreds, if not more, high school and college coaches,” the former Seton Hall coach said by phone Sunday.
“The knowledge he would impart, most of the time it wasn’t X’s and O’s. It was how you should conduct yourself, how your team should behave, what’s the classy way to go about things.”
Carlesimo drew on that wisdom after being dealt one of the toughest breaks in college hoops history – the phantom foul against Michigan that cost his Pirates the 1989 NCAA Tournament title.
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So placid and gracious was Carlesimo’s handling of the call that the offending official, John Clougherty, later credited the coach with saving his career.
Keeping things in perspective
Carnesecca’s record spoke for itself. Over two tours at St. John’s helm, from 1965-70 and 1973-92, he posted a ledger of 526-200, including 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, the 1985 Final Four and the Elite Eight in 1979 and 1991.
His Johnnies captured Big East titles in 1983 and 1986 and the NIT crown in 1989. In his 24 campaigns with the Redmen, as they were then known, he never had a losing record …