Lou Carnesecca was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, making him one of dozens of college coaches honored. His numbers during 24 years at St. John’s made him an easy choice.

Known for his quick wit and garish sweaters, he took the New York City university to national basketball prominence over 24 seasons.

Lou Carnesecca, the excitable St. John’s coach whose outlandish sweaters became an emblem of his team’s rousing Final Four run in 1985, has died at 99, just a few weeks shy of what would have been his 100th birthday.