RIP Coach Carnesecca

What an ambassador for the university. When I went to my first game as a little kid I remember being confused when they announced lineups at what I thought was a very loud and coordinated “boooooo” when they finished lineups. But I asked my dad and he told me that it was “Louuuuuuuuuu” for coach. Looking back I can’t think of any other coach that got as warm of a welcome every game. He made everyone feel like he was part of their family.
 
hersheypa said:
What an ambassador for the university. When I went to my first game as a little kid I remember being confused when they announced lineups at what I thought was a very loud and coordinated “boooooo” when they finished lineups. But I asked my dad and he told me that it was “Louuuuuuuuuu” for coach. Looking back I can’t think of any other coach that got as warm of a welcome every game. He made everyone feel like he was part of their family.
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Well said.
 
I am deeply saddened! I spent 60 years of my life admiring, respecting and laughing with the great Coach Lou Carnesecca. He and his teams brought jioy, heartbreak and relentless excitement into my sports life. I never met the man, but he was a gigantic part of my life experience. I will say a prayer for "Little Louie" and his wife of 73 years Mary.
 
RIP. A truly great man. I will never forget the time I waited outside of Gampel for the team bus to arrive for practice. Lou saw my SJ sweatshirt and greeted me like an old friend (as most people who met him would understand). My wife said I was floating in the air the rest of the day. Great coach, even better man.
 
For my entire life whenever SJU basketball, or even SJU itself comes up with someone they inevitably invoke Coach Carnesecca name into the conversation. The word great gets tossed around now a lot - this man had a no doubt about it great life.

And if he had to go, fitting that his Johnnies were playing their first game ever on a Network called Peacock at the time.
 
There will be tons of wonderful and deserving stories about Carnesecca, but here is one of mine: A few years after graduation, in the mid to late nineties, was a game at the Garden with a poster here, Zanman.

We saw Carnesecca talking to a group of people, but we were not about to interrupt. Before we could walk away, Carnesecca say, “look who it is, Alfredo.”

He remembered me from my Torch days. Suffice it to say it was incredible. If someone was not with me as proof, no one would have believed it. Again, once he met you, he knew you. He would remember something about you from a conversation. From me, he always remembered my parents were Italian immigrants.
 
kranmars said:
No matter if you were president or some idiot Torch editor, like myself, he was always welcoming and made time for you and to know you.
Never said no to an interview, a handshake, an acknowledgment.
Gem of a man. RIP.
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I will add to Kranmars post:

After a game at MSG in the mid 90s, Kranmars and I are leaving and who do we see, Coach C. in the hallway.

I said to Kranmars, "You interviewed the guy many times and should say hello."

Kranmars said, "Nah. He won't remember me, that was years ago. I'm not going to bother him."

At that exact moment, we hear THAT VOICE from across the hallway: "Hey! Look who it is..." and he calls Kranmars by his first name!!!!

The two proceeded to talk for a minute or two as I just stood there in awe.

They don't make them like that anymore.

God bless your soul, Coach. WE LOVE YOU.
 
I had just been transferred by my Company to Rochester , NY .
A few weeks later , St John’s was to play Niagara in the Buffalo War Memorial Auditorium .
So myself and a co -worker went to the game .
It was a Doubleheader and Canisius was playing somebody .
Anyway , during that game , Louie and Assistants were in the stands watching and I decided to go over to introduce myself and say hello .
I sat down in a empty seat and told Louie I was a St John’s grad , etc .
He asked if I had been to the NIT Chanpionship game in 1965 and I said yes . He said how special that was for Coach Lapchick to win that game as it was the last game the Big Indian Coached .

Anyway , the Redmen won the game vs Niagara but , after the game I watched Lou make a special effort to go over to a Niagara player , Phil Scaffidi who was terminally ill with Bone Cancer . The Niagara Coach had put Phil onto the game in the last minute . Both of his legs had these Metal Braces on and he tripped and fell several times
Lou hunched over and spoke a few words into Scaffidis ’ ear and then , gently touched his face .It was a loving gesture that many probably missed but , to me was heartfelt .
The details of that game are long gone but , not what Lou did that Evening .
I have probably told this story more than a few times, so just bear with me , one more time .
I bet Lou has already found Phil Scaffidi once again today .

May he rest in Peace .
 
Looie will always be a national treasure, and the man most associated with the best of times for St. John's basketball fans. I met him just one time, but it was a thrill when he said to me "hello son". I was probably in my 20s, but I'm sure he was a fatherly figure to many. 99 years of a life well lived is a blessing, but it's never enough when someone is as special as Coach Carnesecca.
 
So many great remembrances of Coach Looie and his teams. Spent 30 + years in row JJ on the bleachers cheering on his teams. Spent many afternoons watching practice after "sneaking" into the arena while attending school, getting a wink from him, knowing I shouldn't have been there, but not having me removed. RIP Coach. A true St. John’s treasure, forever!
 
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