NEW YORK – The St. John's University men's and women's basketball teams will wear “Lou” patches on their jerseys for the remainder of this season to honor Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca, who died Saturday at 99 years.
A funeral Mass will be held Friday morning at St. Thomas More Church on the university's Queens campus, and the athletic department will host “A Tribute to Coach Carnesecca” this weekend during basketball games men's and women's stadium at the stadium that bears his name, St. John's announced Tuesday.
Led by coach Rick Pitino, the Red Storm men will play Kansas State on Saturday as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle. The women's team will face Wake Forest on Sunday.
Carnesecca's reserved seat 3 in Section 7, row JJ, where he used to attend games after retiring in 1992, will remain empty in his honor.
Both matches will be preceded by a video tribute to Carnesecca and a moment of silence inside the arena. A commemorative decal will be installed on the court and St. John's players will wear “526” shooting jerseys to commemorate Carnesecca's win total.
The school also plans to honor his life and legacy with digital billboards on the Long Island Expressway, Whitestone Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike.
The winningest coach in men's program history, Carnesecca was 526-200 in 24 seasons at St. John's during two stints from 1965 to 1992. He led the team to five Big East regular-season titles, 18 appearances in NCAA tournaments and the 1985 Final Four.
St. John's will also host Lou Carnesecca Day when the team plays Butler on campus on Jan. 4, one day before his 100th birthday.
