“Coach spent his whole life here,’’ Chris Mullin said. “The longevity alone was a lot, but it was more his infectious personality, his warmth, his care, his love, his protection. I always felt he protected us. He gave his players the wins and he took the losses.”

Over 400 people packed the church on the Queens campus on a frigid morning and one player who was recruited by Carnesecca, Billy Schaeffer, gave the eulogy and spoke of Carnesecca’s insistence on the importance of not having a big ego, staying humble and caring for others.