St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s to Unveil Lou Carnesecca Statue in Arena Lobby
7/28/2021 10:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Monument to program’s winningest coach coming in October
QUEENS, N.Y. – Already bearing the name of the legendary head coach, the on-campus home of the Red Storm will unveil another tribute to Lou Carnesecca this fall.
The University has commissioned a statue of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, which will be occupy a prominent space in the arena lobby across from the building's main entrance.
"We're thrilled to install the statue of Coach Carnesecca in the arena lobby," said Athletic Director Mike Cragg. "Coach is the reason that so many of our supporters first fell in love with St. John's Basketball, so it will be fitting that he greets fans as they walk in the door for a game."
The public unveiling ceremony is scheduled to be the kickoff event for St. John's Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Oct. 22 followed by a dedication ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 23. The action packed weekend also features Red Storm Tip-Off on Friday evening. The following night, St. John's will induct its 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame class.
"This is sure to be a memorable weekend for St. John's Athletics and the greater University community," said Cragg. "I think this will be a great way to welcome everyone back, after being apart for a long year and a half, to reconnect and celebrate together."
Master sculptor Brian Hanlon, who created the statue of Joe Lapchick that stands guard outside of Taffner Field House, also forged the monument to Carnesecca. Hanlon is the Master Sculptor for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Carnesecca won 526 games in 24 years as the head coach at St. John's. His teams played in 24 postseasons, qualifying for the 18 NCAA Tournaments and six NITs, highlighted by the program's second Final Four appearance in 1985 and fifth NIT title in 1989. A founding father of the BIG EAST Conference and an international ambassador for the game known the world over, Carnesecca was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
The University has commissioned a statue of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, which will be occupy a prominent space in the arena lobby across from the building's main entrance.
"We're thrilled to install the statue of Coach Carnesecca in the arena lobby," said Athletic Director Mike Cragg. "Coach is the reason that so many of our supporters first fell in love with St. John's Basketball, so it will be fitting that he greets fans as they walk in the door for a game."
The public unveiling ceremony is scheduled to be the kickoff event for St. John's Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Oct. 22 followed by a dedication ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 23. The action packed weekend also features Red Storm Tip-Off on Friday evening. The following night, St. John's will induct its 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame class.
"This is sure to be a memorable weekend for St. John's Athletics and the greater University community," said Cragg. "I think this will be a great way to welcome everyone back, after being apart for a long year and a half, to reconnect and celebrate together."
Master sculptor Brian Hanlon, who created the statue of Joe Lapchick that stands guard outside of Taffner Field House, also forged the monument to Carnesecca. Hanlon is the Master Sculptor for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Carnesecca won 526 games in 24 years as the head coach at St. John's. His teams played in 24 postseasons, qualifying for the 18 NCAA Tournaments and six NITs, highlighted by the program's second Final Four appearance in 1985 and fifth NIT title in 1989. A founding father of the BIG EAST Conference and an international ambassador for the game known the world over, Carnesecca was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
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