Lou Rossini Inducted in 1997
Lou Rossini
Lucio "Lou" Rossini (April 24, 1921 – October 21, 2005) a Bronx native, played for St John's (1940-42), and Columbia University (1945-47). Later he would coach at Columbia (1950-58), NYU (1958-71), and St Francis (NY) (1975-79).
Rossini's first year as head coach at Columbia University, he led them to a 21–1 record and an appearance in the 1951 NCAA basketball tournament. At NYU, he led them to three NCAA tournament appearances and four National Invitation Tournament (NIT) bids in 13 seasons. Rossini last coached at St. Francis College in Brooklyn and had a 55–48 record. He coached the Puerto Rican national team in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and the Qatar national team in the 1980s. In 1959 he led the Capitanes de Arecibo a team in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (Puerto Rico basketball league) to their first championship.
Rossini's first year as head coach at Columbia University, he led them to a 21–1 record and an appearance in the 1951 NCAA basketball tournament. At NYU, he led them to three NCAA tournament appearances and four National Invitation Tournament (NIT) bids in 13 seasons. Rossini last coached at St. Francis College in Brooklyn and had a 55–48 record. He coached the Puerto Rican national team in the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and the Qatar national team in the 1980s. In 1959 he led the Capitanes de Arecibo a team in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (Puerto Rico basketball league) to their first championship.