Legendary St. John's basketball coach Lou Carnesecca has passed away at the age of 99, confirmed by News 4 sports reporter Bruce Beck on Saturday.
Carnesecca, a two-time National Coach of the Year and three-time Big East Coach of the Year, was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. In addition to his distinguished career at St. John's, he also coached the New York Nets in the ABA.
Over 24 seasons at St. John's, Carnesecca won more than 500 games and led the team to the Final Four in 1985. He was also instrumental in shaping the BIG EAST Conference as we know it today.
"Coach Carnesecca was a founding father of the BIG EAST Conference and an ambassador for basketball worldwide," the university said in a September statement. "In addition to his coaching legacy, he touched countless lives and made a lasting impact on the St. John’s University community for over eight decades."
Bruce Beck paid tribute to Carnesecca on social media, writing: "With tears in my eyes, I say goodbye to Lou Carnesecca. What a run—99 years of living life to its fullest. What a coach. What a man. What a friend. I was so honored to host his TV show for seven years on @msgnetworks & so blessed to have him in my life for 46 years. RIP Louie. I have lost a second father—the world has lost a Saint.