P.J. Carlesimo
From Hoopedia
Peter J. (P. J.) Carlesimo (born May 30, 1949 in Scranton, Pennsylvania) is a college and professional basketball coach, and son of Peter A. Carlesimo who was the longtime coach and athletic director at the University of Scranton and Fordham University.
Carlesimo coached Seton Hall University from 1982-1994 (212-166) and was named the school's "Coach of the Century" and led the Pirates to an overtime loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the 1989 National Championship. Carlesimo served in the NBA as a head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers from 1994 to 1997 and Golden State Warriors from 1997 to 1999, both times succeeding Rick Adelman. He also served as an assistant coach on the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team." He has been an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich since 2002.
On July 5, 2007, Carlesimo was introduced as the new head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics. After the 2007-08 season, the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Carlesimo remained the coach until November 22, 2008, when he was fired.
Early Coaching Stints
Carlesimo is a 1971 graduate of Fordham University and began his coaching career as an assistant at the school. He also had a very successful coaching stint at Wagner College of Staten Island, New York.
Latrell Sprewell Choking Incident
Carlesimo is probably best remembered as the victim of a notorious attack by Latrell Sprewell during a practice on December 1, 1997, when Carlesimo was head coach of the Golden State Warriors. During this incident, Sprewell choked Carlesimo for nearly 15 seconds until being pulled off by several teammates, and elbowed him several minutes later. Sprewell said that if his teammates did not stop him he would have seriously injured, and possibly killed Carlesimo. Sprewell was suspended for the remainder of that season, and never again played for the Warriors. As a result of the incident, Carlesimo is widely viewed as having a negative rapport with professional basketball players.
