St. John’s coach Rick Pitino is honoring late school legend Lou Carnesecca with a vintage look


It’s been more than three decades since Lou Carnesecca was last on the sidelines John’s Red Stormbut his presence is still felt.

“Looie” died last week at the age of 99, prompting an outpouring of tributes in the the world of college basketball as well as the tri-state area.

But the St. John’s legend is still fresh in the minds of many, including current head coach Rick Pitino.

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Rick Pitino

St. John’s Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino wears a sweater honoring the late Lou Carnesecca against the Kansas State Wildcats at Carnesecca Arena. (Images by Wendell Cruz-Imagn)

During the Johnnies’ game against Kansas State on Saturday, Carnesecca wore a replica of the vintage sweater which made Carnesecca famous during his time at the school. This is the first game at the school since his death.

The game was played in the arena named after Carnezek – the arena opened in 1961 and was named after the Hall of Fame coach in 2004.

Carnesecca coached St. John’s for 24 seasons over two stints. He led the team to 18 seasons in which the team won at least 20 games and 18 NCAA Tournament occurrences. His teams produced stars such as Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington, Mark Jackson and Walter Berry.

Lou Carnesecca coaches

FILE – Lou Carnesecca coaches his St. John’s team from the sideline during a game against Niagara in New York, Nov. 23, 1991. (AP Photo/Mark Lenihan, file)

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St. John’s won the NIT championship in 1989 and Carnesecca was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 – the year he retired from the sport.

Carnesecca took over for Joe Lapczyk before the start of the 1965-66 season. He became the head coach for New York Nets NBA in 1970 and later returned to the team, then known as the Redmen, replacing Frank Mulzoff.

His best team was the 1984-85 squad led by Mullin, Berry, Jackson and Wennington. They had 31 wins and were 15-1 in the Big East, advancing to the Final Four before losing to the Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown Hoyas.

Lou Carnesecca worn by his team

PHILADELPHIA – St. John’s coach Lou Karnesek is carried by his team after the Redman beat Boston College in the Big East championship at New York’s Madison Square Garden on March 12, 1983. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett, File)

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Karnezek was 526-200 in his coaching career. He was a three-time Big East Coach of the Year and a two-time Basketball Writers Association of America Coach of the Year.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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