For the past five seasons (2002-07), Carlesimo served as Gregg Popovich’s lead assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, winners of three of the last five NBA titles. Prior to joining the Spurs, he was a broadcaster for NBC Sports and Spurs Television for two seasons.

Carlesimo started his coaching career as an assistant at Fordham University in 1971, before being named head coach at New Hampshire College for one season (1975-76). He then spent six seasons (1976-82) as the head coach at Wagner College, and led the Seahawks to their first NIT appearance. In 1982, Carlesimo was named head coach at Seton Hall University, a position he held for 12 years. In 1987-88, he led Seton Hall into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history with a team starring current Sonics assistant coach Mark Bryant. Carlesimo led the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament six of his final seven years at Seton Hall. Carlesimo was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1989 after his squad finished 31-7, and advanced to the NCAA Championship Game, played in Seattle. In addition, he was named Big East Coach of the Year in both 1988 and 1989.

Carlesimo made the transition to the NBA in the summer of 1994, when he was named head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He compiled a 137-109 (.557) record over three seasons and led the Blazers to three straight playoff appearances. Carlesimo’s winning season in his first year in the NBA coming from the collegiate ranks made him the first coach to accomplish that feat in 25 years. The 1996-97 Portland team posted the lowest field goal percentage allowed (.436) in team history to that point, and recorded an 11-game winning streak (third longest in Blazers’ history). Each of Carlesimo’s three Portland squads finished in the-top three in league rebounding totals. All three teams held opponents scoring totals to under 100 points, with each season lower than the previous year. The 1994-95 Blazers allowed 99.2 ppg, followed by 97.0 ppg and a then Blazers record 94.8 ppg in 1996-97. In June of 1997, Carlesimo was hired as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, a position he held until December of 1999. The Warriors led the league in rebounding each of his first two seasons in Golden State. In addition, the 1998-99 Warriors set franchise records in field goal percentage defense (.420) and lowest points allowed (90.8). In six NBA seasons, Carlesimo has an overall NBA record of 183-222 (.452).

Carlesimo also has an extensive background in international competition. This past summer, he was head coach of the USA Basketball Select Team in Las Vegas, a squad that included Sonics forward Jeff Green. He served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball for the 1992 Olympic Games, the 1990 World Championships, the 1990 Goodwill Games played in Seattle and the 1988 Olympic Trials. In addition, Carlesimo was the head coach of three other U.S. Teams, including the 1991 World University Games squad, winners of the gold medal.

A native of Scranton, Pa., Carlesimo graduated from Scranton Prep in 1967 and from Fordham University in 1971. He was a member of the school’s 26-3 basketball team in 1970-71, the winningest team in school history and Fordham’s first-ever NCAA Tournament Team. Carlesimo has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, the Wagner Hall of Fame and the Seton Hall Athletic Hall of Fame. His father, the late Pete Carlesimo, was the long-time executive director of the NIT.

Carlesimo and his wife, Carolyn, have two sons, Kyle (5) and Casey (2).