Former College of Charleston men’s basketball coach John Kresse was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday. He joins a number of other basketball legends including current
Cougar coach Bobby Cremins, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lenny Wilkins, Satch Sanders, Doug Moe, Frank Layden, Jim Valvano, Kenny Smith, Rolando Blackman and many others.
“I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious honor,” said Kresse. “My roots are in the Big Apple where I played and then coached for years before coming to College of Charleston. Coaching basketball for 38 years at the different levels, high school, college and the pros have been the happiest and most fulfilling years of my life.”
Induction ceremonies were held at the New York Athletic Club. Joining Kresse in this year’s class were players Armond Hill, John Salley, Gail Marquis, Billy Schaefer, John Crawford and announcer John Andareise.
Kresse, who retired on March 14, 2002 after coaching the Cougars for 23 years, finished with a record of 560-143 and the second highest winning percentage among active coaches (.797). He led the Cougars to
the 1983 NAIA National Championship. Kresse’s teams won at least 21 games in each of his final nine seasons, and 18 times in 23 years overall. Charleston averaged 24 wins per season during his tenure. He led the Cougars to four NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of NIT berths.
Kresse was a walk-on for the St. John’s basketball team his freshman year. He earned a scholarship from legendary coach Joe Lapchick his sophomore season. In 1965 when Lapchick retired, Lou Carnesecca
hired Kresse as his assistant at St. John’s, an association that lasted 14 years. After five seasons, Carnesecca was named head coach of the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Kresse joined Carnesecca as an assistant coach, director of player personnel and chief scout. Among the players he coached with the Nets included South Carolina standout John Roche and Hall of Famer Rick Barry. Carnesecca and Kresse returned to St. John’s following the 1973 campaign. During Kresse’s 11 years at St. John’s, they posted a remarkable 231-82 (.738) record.
