One year after his passing, the St. John’s University community came together to honor the life and legacy of Coach Lou Carnesecca.
On November 20, students from The Peter J. Tobin College of Business gathered to pay tribute to the legendary coach whose influence continues to resonate across campus. The tribute took the form of a 100-piece mosaic memorial—part of a larger community art initiative—depicting Coach Lou in one of his iconic sweaters. Each student was invited to paint an individual tile following a designated pattern, creating a shared artistic experience that allowed participants to honor Lou in their own personal way.
Coach Lou, who passed away on November 30, 2024, at the age of 99, embodied the Vincentian mission at the heart of St. John’s University. Even after retiring from coaching, he remained a constant presence on campus, supporting fundraising efforts and attending University events. Those who knew him remember not only his extraordinary accomplishments on the court, but his kindness and humility off it—qualities that reflected the values he championed throughout his life.
“His coaching expertise was as good as anyone in basketball,” said Rick Pitino, Head Coach of St. John’s Men’s Basketball. “But the man he was surpassed that.”
The completed mosaic stands as a powerful symbol of Coach Lou’s lasting impact. Dozens of Tobin students eagerly participated in the memorial, some painting multiple tiles and others adding handwritten messages of gratitude and remembrance. “Schaefer City,” reads one tile. Another simply says, “Thanks, Lou.”
The project was a student-led initiative within the Tobin College of Business, developed under the direction of Assistant Dean Dan Napolitano as part of his Community Art Mosaics Project. The tribute was led by Julianna Taliercio (’25 BS Marketing, ’26 MBA Marketing Analytics) and served as a centerpiece of The Fifth Quarter, a division of Napolitano’s project that highlights iconic figures and enduring legacies in sports. The mosaic portrait itself was designed from scratch by Theresa Lovero (’26 BS Illustration), who intentionally emphasized Coach Lou’s famous sweater with its bright chevron stripes—a lucky charm that became synonymous with his coaching legacy and St. John’s rise to a national No. 1 ranking.
Following the success of the student event, Taliercio and Assistant Dean Napolitano extended the tribute to alumni—those with some of the closest ties to Coach Lou. Prior to the St. John’s vs. Bucknell Men’s Basketball game, alumni gathered at the 1870 Court to help complete the mosaic and add their own messages in his honor. For many, the experience offered not only a chance to celebrate a St. John’s legend, but also an opportunity to reflect on their own memories of Lou and their time at the University.
“I was overjoyed to be able to paint a tile for this,” one alum shared on Instagram. “Louie forever.”
Now displayed in the lobby of Tobin, the mosaic stands as a testament to the power of community and collective remembrance. It reflects the life of Coach Lou Carnesecca—a life rooted in compassion, service, and humility—as well as the voices and memories of generations of the St. John’s family. As 100 individual pieces come together to form a single image, the message is unmistakable: when individuals contribute with intention and heart, they can create something far greater than themselves.
Standing on an easel at the entrance of the Tobin lobby, created through shared effort and deep respect, Coach Lou’s legacy endures.
“On November 20, I had the privilege of directing a very special event honoring Coach Lou Carnesecca,” Taliercio reflected. “I hope this mosaic reflects even a fraction of the legacy Coach Lou leaves behind.”