Louie: In Season

Carnesecca has been a basketball coach for almost 40 years, most of them at St. John's University in New York. Here, with New York Daily News columnist Pepe ( Slick , Billyball ), he retraces his career from high school and college to a three-year stint with the pros. He is especially perceptive in contrasting the jobs of the college and professional coach, showing that each requires very different skills. Also of more than passing interest are his observations on the increased challenge of recruiting (Carnesecca prefers to get players from the New York area) and the twin dangers among athletes of gambling and drugs, which he feels he has to battle constantly. He makes warm and generous comments about other coaches and players he has managed. Overall, this conventional sports autobiography is likely to interest only the most dedicated fans. Photos not seen by PW. (Dec.)