FDU Knights Athletics

Peter John “P.J.” Carlesimo, veteran coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA), NBA studio analyst and ESPN radio game analyst.

Carlesimo began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Fordham University in 1971, serving as head coach at various colleges including Wagner College, which he led to its first National Invitation Tournament appearance, and Seton Hall University, which enjoyed its first NCAA appearance in the (1987–1988) tournament. He was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1989 and Big East Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1989.

In 1994, Carlesimo made the transition to the NBA when he was named head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He was the first coach in 25 years to post a winning season in his first year in the NBA after coming from college basketball.

Carlesimo spent 13 seasons with the NBA — as head coach of the Golden State Warriors and Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder; assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors; and interim head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. He was also assistant coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team which won the gold medal.

Carlesimo accepted the award by video, as he was on the road at the time of the event.