Coach Carnesecca

M

MarkRedman

Well-known member
Twenty eight years ago today, Lou Carnesecca retired as head coach of St John's with a mark of 526-200 over 24 seasons.

A great coach, an even better person and the best ambassador of St John's University
Thanks, Coach, for all of the great memories that you provided us with
G-d bless you and your family
 
I was just looking at his record. We all know he didn’t have great postseason success but he did win 2 CHSAA championships and took a mediocre 1972 Net team to the ABA finals with 3 St Johns players. sonny Dove, Depre and Billy Paultz.
 
[attachment=1401]0C89A022-7503-4485-ADDE-026C6A7841A9.jpeg[/attachment]
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=385260][attachment=1401]0C89A022-7503-4485-ADDE-026C6A7841A9.jpeg[/attachment][/quote]

95 and dapper as ever, even in a pandemic
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=385266][quote="Paultzman" post=385260][attachment=1401]0C89A022-7503-4485-ADDE-026C6A7841A9.jpeg[/attachment][/quote]

95 and dapper as ever, even in a pandemic[/quote]
Whatta guy!!!! Say hello to him...he acts like he remembers you and knows you...
 
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MarkRedman: thanks for posting that truly heartwarming video. I just shared it with a bunch of old friends and relatives including the guy who went to the Johnny games with me and my Dad when my Dad had season tickets in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Brings back such good memories!
 
Great little piece on such a classy person. When I went to St. John's I had the privilege to meet Coach Carnesecca. He couldn't have been any nicer and so down to earth....and was surprised that we spoke for a while, I couldn't believe that a person of such a high caliber would take the time to sit and talk just about life and tell stories from his coaching days!
 
Probably told this before but bears repeating here. About 2 years ago I was with a friend walking into Acquista's before a game. I was ahead of him and walked in first...when I looked back I didn't see my friend and got confused. Few seconds later, I see him holding the door as Lou exits the back of a shiny black mercedes and walks into the restaurant. Looked like a true made man lol...as he walked past me I was star struck and said "Hey Mr. Carnesecca huge fan, you look great!" and he stopped and grabbed my SJ starter jacket looking at the old patch with the cloud and lightning. He said "That's a sharp looking jacket! See this patch? It should be the other one from back in the day but you know it's PC now" or something to that extent as he laughed. He really makes you feel like he's your grandfather instantly even if you never met him before. Great guy and a true legend.
 
Bruce Beck, if he hasn't already received an honorary degree from St. John's (I think he has), certainly deserves one

As he mentioned one year at the President's dinner which he graciously and professionally emceed for many years, "I went to Rutgers, where their team name is the Scarlet Knights, but the red I bleed is for the St. John's Red Storm."

Enough said.
 
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Gracious as they come. 6 years ago at Dribble for a Cure, I introduced my daughter to Coach Carnesecca (she was nine ). He spent 10-15 minutes talking just to her.
We always look him for in the stands
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=385310]MarkRedman: thanks for posting that truly heartwarming video. I just shared it with a bunch of old friends and relatives including the guy who went to the Johnny games with me and my Dad when my Dad had season tickets in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Brings back such good memories![/quote]

Late 60's and early 70's were the years that I was an undergrad
Student tickets were $1 each and we sat right behind the bench
Got a pizza on Union Turnpike and the whole date was less than $10
If I was a "good boy", there was even a little "nookie" at Alley Pond Park
 
I’m sure I have posted before about this but , it bears mention again . Back in 1978 or 79 , we were playing Niagara in the Buffalo War Auditorium . It was a Niagara home game and I drove over from Rochester to see it . During the game , Coach and some Assistant Coaches were sitting a few seats away from me during the first game of a doubleheader . Anyway , I went over and introduced myself and Coach invited me to sit down . We talked for about 10 minutes . He then ex used himself and said it was time to get down to the Locker Room . Well, we destroyed the Purple Knights but , that was only part of what I remember .. Niagara has a player , Phil Scaffidi who had bone Cancer but , still suited up for games so he could be with his teammates . Anyway , the game is a rout and with about 2 minutes left in the game , the Niagara Coach puts Scaffidi in the game . He had braces on his legs and could barely keep himself upright but , he played those last few moments gamely .. At the Final Buzzer , the first person off the Redmen Bench was Lou and he makes a bee line for Scaffidi . Grabs him , talks to him with that Lou smile and then , ever so gently touches Scaffidi ‘s cheek , much like a Mom or Dad would do to their own child . I saw the whole thing , over in a couple of minutes but , it’s stayed with me all these years . Quite a measure of the Man who Coached us .
 
Fabulous snapshot. A few minutes that captures the sense of the man. Teary indeed. A friend, who is a semi-St. John's fan, alerted me about this heartwarming sketch. Thank you Bruce Beck.
 
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The following letter was sent by Lou on 2/12/01:
Dear Jack & Helen,
Many thanks for your kind thoughts and sentiments. I appreciate them very much. It was a great night and as you know you better have great players.
It just seems like yesterday when I was at St.Ann's and you wereplaying at St.Agnes.The Marist monks gave us a good foundation.
I hopeyou are enjoyingyour living in Nevada. I know the bread and pastais not as good as here - it's in the water. Jack, again, many thanks for remembering.
Regards, and a big hug to Helen.
Lou
 
A couple of sayings I remember from Coach C.

The difference is “They had kids who are McDonalds All Americans we have kids who eat at McDonalds. (I’ve heard other coaches use it since but he said it a long time ago”.)

“Once a peacock now a feather duster.” (or something like that LOL)

As Coach Louie would say about others, I’ll say about him, he is a “Prince of a man”.
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=385339]I’m sure I have posted before about this but , it bears mention again . Back in 1978 or 79 , we were playing Niagara in the Buffalo War Auditorium . It was a Niagara home game and I drove over from Rochester to see it . During the game , Coach and some Assistant Coaches were sitting a few seats away from me during the first game of a doubleheader . Anyway , I went over and introduced myself and Coach invited me to sit down . We talked for about 10 minutes . He then ex used himself and said it was time to get down to the Locker Room . Well, we destroyed the Purple Knights but , that was only part of what I remember .. Niagara has a player , Phil Scaffidi who had bone Cancer but , still suited up for games so he could be with his teammates . Anyway , the game is a rout and with about 2 minutes left in the game , the Niagara Coach puts Scaffidi in the game . He had braces on his legs and could barely keep himself upright but , he played those last few moments gamely .. At the Final Buzzer , the first person off the Redmen Bench was Lou and he makes a bee line for Scaffidi . Grabs him , talks to him with that Lou smile and then , ever so gently touches Scaffidi ‘s cheek , much like a Mom or Dad would do to their own child . I saw the whole thing , over in a couple of minutes but , it’s stayed with me all these years . Quite a measure of the Man who Coached us .[/quote]
Wow,,,that is him...and why we treasure him...not a scintilla of phoniness
 
[quote="sjc88" post=385352]A couple of sayings I remember from Coach C.

The difference is “They had kids who are McDonalds All Americans we have kids who eat at McDonalds. (I’ve heard other coaches use it since but he said it a long time ago”.)

“Once a peacock now a feather duster.” (or something like that LOL)

As Coach Louie would say about others, I’ll say about him, he is a “Prince of a man”.[/quote]

Joe Lapchick had a business card he carried in his wallet to remind him that coaching is a fragile career endeavor and to have some humility when you have success. It simply said on it "Today a peacock. Tomorrow a featherduster"

When Lapchick retired in 1965, he gave the business card to Looie, who kept it in his wallet for years. At the press conference announcing Mullin as head coach, Looie told the story, and said the card was still in his wallet. He then opened his wallet, and presented the dog eared card to Chris,

For Looie, Chris was the natural succession from Lapchick to Carnesecca to Mullin.

For Chris, the ride was much shorter, but 4 seasons of trying to accomplish what his second father did, he left as too many coaches do, as a featherduster.

To me, these stories and this man makes our program special. Yea, we don't have championships but we have Coach C. And I'm pretty certain I wouldn't trade one for the other. Looie I'm sure would say I'm "Stoo-nahd"
 
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