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Ben Carnevale

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Ben Carnevale
A black and white photograph of two white men wearing sweatshirts that say "NORTH CAROLINA"
Carnevale (left) with his assistant coach Pete Mullis during the 1944–45 season
Biographical details
Born(1915-10-30)October 30, 1915
Raritan, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedMarch 25, 2008(2008-03-25) (aged 92)
Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
1933–1937NYU
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1944–1946North Carolina
1946–1966Navy
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1966–1972NYU
1972–1981William & Mary
Head coaching record
Overall309–171
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
SoCon tournament (1945)
SoCon regular season (1946)
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1970
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006

Bernard Louis Carnevale (October 30, 1915 – March 25, 2008)[1] was an American basketball coach and college athletic administrator. He served as the head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1944 to 1946 and the United States Naval Academy from 1946 to 1966, compiling a career college basketball coaching record of 309–171. Carnevale was the athletic director at New York University from 1966 to 1972 and the College of William & Mary from 1972 to 1981. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.

Early years

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Born in Raritan, New Jersey, Carnevale was a graduate of Somerville High School in Somerville, New Jersey.[2] He graduated from New York University, where he was a member of the 1935 national championship team and played in the first National Invitation Tournament in 1938. While at NYU he was coached by the legendary Howard Cann. He served as a Navy officer during World War II, receiving the Purple Heart.

Carnevale (top row, third from left) with the 1944–45 North Carolina Tar Heels

Career

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Carnevale was the head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1944 to 1946. While coaching at UNC, he led the team to their first appearance in the title game. The Tar Heels lost the game to Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), who won their second national crown under legendary coach Henry Iba.

Carnevale then moved to Navy between 1946 and 1966, compiling a 257–160 record despite the Naval Academy height restrictions, at that time 6'5" (1.96 m). Carnevale was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.[3]

Personal life

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Carnevale and his wife, Agnes Curran Carnevale, were married for 65 years and had four sons and a daughter. At the time of his death, they were living in Williamsburg, Virginia.[1] Their son, Mark, was a professional golfer, who won five times on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour.

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
North Carolina Tar Heels (Southern Conference) (1944–1946)
1944–45 North Carolina 22–6 11–3 4th
1945–46 North Carolina 30–5 13–1 T–1st NCAA Runner-up
North Carolina: 52–11 24–4
Navy Midshipmen (NCAA University Division independent) (1946–1966)
1946–47 Navy 16–3 NCAA Quarterfinal
1947–48 Navy 10–7
1948–49 Navy 11–10
1949–50 Navy 14–7
1950–51 Navy 16–6
1951–52 Navy 16–7
1952–53 Navy 16–5 NCAA first round
1953–54 Navy 18–8 NCAA Elite Eight
1954–55 Navy 11–9
1955–56 Navy 10–9
1956–57 Navy 15–8
1957–58 Navy 10–10
1958–59 Navy 18–6 NCAA University Division Sweet 16
1959–60 Navy 16–6 NCAA University Division First Round
1960–61 Navy 10–9
1961–62 Navy 13–8 NIT First Round
1962–63 Navy 9–9
1963–64 Navy 10–12
1964–65 Navy 10–10
1965–66 Navy 7–12
Navy: 257–160
Total: 309–171

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Former Navy coach Ben Carnevale dies at age 92". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 26, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
  2. ^ Frezza Jr., Harry. "Raritan man attends Final Four for 57th time", Courier News, April 1, 2001. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Ben Carnevale, who turns 86 on October 30, has had the kind of life some people might call legendary. In fact, when you look at his life, which began in a house just off the last trolley stop on Gaston Avenue in Raritan Borough, you might agree. The 1934 Somerville High School graduate is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He is also the winningest coach in United States Naval Academy history, a survivor of a ship that was torpedoed during World War II, and somebody who had a lot to do with building the NCAA basketball tournament."
  3. ^ Bernard L. "Ben" Carnevale Archived July 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Accessed August 3, 2007.
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