Looie
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
stromcloud
Active member
Among his other achievements, he laid to rest the cynical “Nice guys finish last” trope of New York sports. He proved that human decency and coaching genius could co-exist. How lucky we were to have him…
Great man. I scan before i actually read and saw "laid to rest" and Looie and freaked.
I wouldn't confuse his off court genuinely warm and engaging demeanor, a man guided by Vincentian principles and a deep faith, with his on court intensity and fiery temperament. Not sure that "coaching genius" is appropriate but certainly built and sustained regular top 25 teams and post season basketball.
L J S A
Well-known member
Genius enough to know what type of schedule would result in a tournament bid back then, and also genius enough to employ a defensive genius.
So simple, yet other coaches failed at both.
I remember when I was in school, walking from Marillac to “Alumni Hall” one day and on the opposite side of the street I saw Looie walking toward Marillac and I waved to him in acknowledgement. He waved back then crossed the street to greet me and ask how I was doing. He didn’t know me from the next kid on campus, but his gesture really made me feel special and won him a lifelong fan. Truly a kind and generous man.
Similar experience although I used to visit coach in his office from time to time so he did know me. Anyway one day talking on campus with a few fellow student friends of mine and coach went out of his way to walk over greet me and have a conversation with the group of us. Special man.
I met coach lou c twice. once at a redmen,com function when maven introduced me to coach. another time at a book signing at a book store along hempstead tpke. both times his warm nature burst forth.
as a coach, at SJU, every year a post season tourney. back in the day they took a lot less than 68 teams.
as a coach, at SJU, every year a post season tourney. back in the day they took a lot less than 68 teams.
Fast forward to today, and walking from Marillac and Alumni Hall could mean walking between two of our members.
How did you mean members?
if you ever wanted to meet Louie, you only had to go to the mid day mass in the campus chapel. Very religious man.
My uncle happened to be Looie's eye doctor, and was very friendly with the Carnesecca family. Through this connection, I went to a team reception at the Sly Fox Inn circa 1985-86 where I met Looie for the first time. I was 10 or 11 and played for my CYO team St. Robert's at the time. The Mullin teams were my absolute heros and I was in awe being at the reception. My uncle introduced me to Looie, saying that I was a player and specifically a point guard. I was beyond nervous. Coach looked at me and smiled, took me by the shoulder and said something to the effect of "I think we'll have an opening at the point down the road if you work hard enough, you never know." I don't think my feet touched the ground for about a month after that.
Curious. What years?
Quick Louie story...In 2000, I started working for a family owned wine company. A longtime employee of the company, Jack, played a year at Georgetown (1946-47) and was friendly with Louie. Upon hearing that I was a St. John's graduate and bball nut, Jack asked if I would like to go to lunch with him and Louie. I immediately said yes and honestly never really expected the luncheon would come to fruition. Well, a week later, I was having lunch with Jack and Lou at Dante's. I remember that luncheon like it was yesterday. Coach was so easy to talk to and one of the nicest, most humble people I ever met. Happy 99th Birthday CLC, many more!!!
The reason is, i have an aunt who turns 99 this year who started school in the same east side catgolic school as looie, then moved to a 2 fam house with my grandparents in st joan of arc parish in jh in that same timeframe.
If Maher complains about the heat in CA, he wouldn’t have lasted 3 mins in Looie’s office. You want to talk hot 
Alumni Hall
Well-known member
Ok another Louie story:
On road trips he loved a HOT BUS. He sat towards the rear of the bus to keep an eye on everybody. But in the busses in the 80’s and 90’s, the front 10 rows were always hotter than the rear 10. So Louie would always speak loudly “TURN UP THE HEAT” to the bus driver. He’d would turn around and look at us and shrug his shoulders while driving. But he knew who was the boss, so he’d crank it up. It got so hot in there that we’d roast.
Some players up front would crank open the windows to cool off, some would sit in shorts and tshirts, while Louie sat in a heavy coat. Finally the bus company figured out that they could duct tape the bottom heat vents near the floor in the front of the bus so we could survive
those trips while keeping the rear HOT.
And hotel’s were under orders to keep the heat cranked up in team rooms and his suite.
I know @SJU85 shed a few pounds in the bus sweatbox through the years!
On road trips he loved a HOT BUS. He sat towards the rear of the bus to keep an eye on everybody. But in the busses in the 80’s and 90’s, the front 10 rows were always hotter than the rear 10. So Louie would always speak loudly “TURN UP THE HEAT” to the bus driver. He’d would turn around and look at us and shrug his shoulders while driving. But he knew who was the boss, so he’d crank it up. It got so hot in there that we’d roast
.Some players up front would crank open the windows to cool off, some would sit in shorts and tshirts, while Louie sat in a heavy coat. Finally the bus company figured out that they could duct tape the bottom heat vents near the floor in the front of the bus so we could survive
those trips while keeping the rear HOT.And hotel’s were under orders to keep the heat cranked up in team rooms and his suite.
I know @SJU85 shed a few pounds in the bus sweatbox through the years!
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That might be my favorite story from you so far ! That's some funny stuffOk another Louie story:
On road trips he loved a HOT BUS. He sat towards the rear of the bus to keep an eye on everybody. But in the busses in the 80’s and 90’s, the front 10 rows were always hotter than the rear 10. So Louie would always speak loudly “TURN UP THE HEAT” to the bus driver. He’d would turn around and look at us and shrug his shoulders while driving. But he knew who was the boss, so he’d crank it up. It got so hot in there that we’d roast
Some players up front would crank open the windows to cool off, some would sit in shorts and tshirts, while Louie sat in a heavy coat. Finally the bus company figured out that they could duct tape the bottom heat vents near the floor in the front of the bus so we could survive
And hotel’s were under orders to keep the heat cranked up in team rooms and his suite.
I know @SJU85 shed a few pounds in the bus sweatbox through the years!
stromcloud
Active member
One hot August I was teaching summer school at Lafayette High in Gravesend. One day a notice appeared on the bulletin board: “this afternoon Coach Lou Carnesecca of St. John’s will conduct a clinic in the gym.” About a dozen kids showed up for the ‘clinic’ (and possibly a recruiting visit) by Looie. Even though they knew this peculiar little Italian could possibly do them some good, they were skeptical. But pretty soon he had them running some drills, ending with this one: he wrapped both arms around the ball and said “try to take it away from me.” Slightly amused, one or two of them tried to knock it loose, with no success. Finally ALL of them were trying to wrench the ball away from the little old man enveloping it. They couldn’t do it. The lesson was about protecting the basketball….