P. J. Carlesimo

Peter J. (P. J.) Carlesimo (born May 30, 1949 in Scranton, Pennsylvania) is the current head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics and a former college basketball coach. He is the son of Peter A. Carlesimo who was the longtime coach and athletic director at the University of Scranton and Fordham University.

Early coaching stints

Carlesimo is a 1971 graduate of Fordham University and began his coaching career as an assistant at the school during the same year. He received his first head coaching job when he took over New Hampshire College for one year, beginning in 1975. The New Hampshire Penmen ended the 1975-1976 season with a 14-13 record and winning the Mayflower Conference championship[1]. Carlesimo also had a very successful coaching stint at Wagner College of Staten Island, New York, leading the team to two NIT berths in six years as coach from 1976 to 1982.

Division I college coaching career

Carlesimo coached Seton Hall University from 1982-1994 (212-166) and was named the school's "Coach of the Century." He the Pirates, a once struggling program, to the 1989 NCAA Championship game before losing to Michigan in overtime. Carlesimo was two-time Big East Conference coach of the year, following both the 1988 season, when he led Seton Hall to its first ever tournament apperance, and his 1989 runner-up year. During Carlesimo's tenure, the Pirates made the NCAA tournament six times.

Carlesimo was an assistant coach under Mike Krzyzewski with the U.S. national team in the 1990 FIBA World Championship, winning the bronze medal. He also served as an assistant coach on the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team," winning the gold medal.

NBA coaching career

Carlesimo moved to the NBA in 1994, taking over the Portland Trail Blazers from Rick Adelman. He led the team to a winning record and the playoffs in his rookie campaign, becoming the first ex-college coach to do so in his opening year in over a quarter of a century. Carlesimo led the Blazers to the playoffs in each of his first years, setting team defensive records in the process. However, he was unable to lead the team out of the playoff's first round.

In 1997, Carlesimo headed to the Golden State Warriors, coaching the team until 1999. He was fired in December of that month, after his team got off to a poor start for the third straight season.

Carlesimo was an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich from 2002 to 2007. He agreed to coach the Seattle SuperSonics on July 5, 2007. The terms of the deal are currently undisclosed .

Latrell Sprewell choking incident

Carlesimo is probably best remembered as the victim of a notorious attack by Latrell Sprewell during a 1997 practice 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.

Coaching Record

Team	Year	Regular Season				Post Season
		G	W	L	Finish	Result
POR	1994-95	82	44	38	4th in Pacific	Lost in First Round
POR	1995-96	82	44	38	3rd in Pacific	Lost in First Round
POR	1996-97	82	49	33	3rd in Pacific	Lost in First Round
GS	1997-98	82	19	63	6th in Pacific	Missed Playoffs
GS	1998-99	50	21	29	6th in Pacific	Missed Playoffs
GS	1999-00	39	9	21	6th in Pacific	Missed Playoffs