Lou Carnesecca, the legendary basketball coach, has died at the age of 99. 

The New York Post reports that Carnesecca died on Saturday afternoon, just weeks away from his 100th birthday.

St. John's, the team that Carnesecca spent so many years coaching, revealed his passing in a statement that it released over the weekend.

"The St. John’s community mourns the loss of Hall of Fame coach and St. John’s legend, Lou Carnesecca. Coach Carnesecca passed away peacefully at the age of 99," the school wrote.

Who was Lou Carnesecca?

Carnesecca, more than anything else, was a renowned college basketball coach.

Fox News reports:

Carnesecca was the coach of St. John’s for 24 seasons over two stints. He led the team to 18 seasons in which the team won at least 20 games and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams produced star players like Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington, Mark Jackson, and Walter Berry.

Under his leadership, St. John's won the NIT Championship in 1989. A few years later, he retired from coaching. That same year, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Post reports that Carnesecca was "the only child of Italian immigrants who ran a grocery store on Manhattan’s East Side." He himself did attend and graduate from St. John's.

Carnesecca, in addition to St. John's, coached the ABA Nets.

Remembering Carnesecca

Tributes have been pouring in following the news of Carnesecca's passing. This includes many from his former players.

This goes to show just how much of a major figure Carnasecca was in the world of college basketball.

As Fox Sports' John Fanta put it, "You cannot tell the story of college basketball — of the Big East — of NYC hoops — without Looie, who was St. John’s. 526 wins in 24 years. Never had a losing season. 1985 Final Four. 2-time National [Coach of the Year award winner]. All-time personality."

Dick Vitale, another legend, put it this way, "One of a kind - loving caring & passionate is what I have felt about Coach Carnesecca as I loved the many conversations we had during my time @espn of covering ⁦@StJohnsBBall⁩ during his era. May COACH RIP!"

According to St. John's:

The legendary head coach leaves behind his beloved wife of 73 years, Mary, as well as his cherished family – daughter Enes, son-in-law Gerard (Jerry), granddaughter Ieva and her fiancé Frank, his dear niece and nephew, Susan Chiesa, John Chiesa and his wife, Nancy – as well as his extended family and his closest friends join them in their loss.