University to Honor Bill Raftery at Carlesimo Award Dinner May 22

May 16, 2012
The University of Scranton will honor Raftery for his contributions to athletics and Catholic education at the Carlesimo Award Dinner on Tuesday, May 22, in the DeNaples Center. Tickets are $150 each with proceeds from the dinner benefitting the University’s Athletics Department and the student-athletes it serves.
The University of Scranton will honor Raftery for his contributions to athletics and Catholic education at the Carlesimo Award Dinner on Tuesday, May 22, in the DeNaples Center. Tickets are $150 each with proceeds from the dinner benefitting the University’s Athletics Department and the student-athletes it serves.

As one of the most recognizable college basketball analysts in the country, Bill Raftery has become a popular voice in sports over the past 30 years. The former head men’s basketball coach at Seton Hall University has coined numerous catch phrases that have become commonplace for hoops fans across the nation.

On Tuesday, May 22, The University of Scranton will honor Raftery for his contributions to athletics and Catholic education at the Carlesimo Award Dinner. The Dinner is held in honor of the late Peter A. Carlesimo, who served the University for nearly 25 years as head coach of the football (1944-1950), basketball (1944-1946; 1951-1955) and cross-country (1953-1968) programs and as director of athletics (1953-1968).

Raftery was the head coach at Seton Hall University from 1970-1982, leading the Pirates to a 154-141 record, ranking him fourth on the school’s all-time wins list. He was also named Coach of the Year in 1979 by the New Jersey Basketball Writers Association after leading the Pirates to a 16-11 record.

In his 30th season as an analyst for CBS Sports’ college basketball coverage, Raftery also serves as an analyst for CBS Radio/Westwood One’s coverage of the NCAA Men’ Final Four in addition to serving as an analyst for ESPN. His catch phrases such as “the kiss,” “nickel-dimer” and “send it in, big fella!” have become popular among basketball fans throughout the nation.

A graduate of LaSalle University where he was a standout basketball player for three seasons, Raftery was also an all-state selection in basketball, soccer and baseball at St. Cecilia High School in Kearny, N.J. He currently lives in Florham Park, N.J. with his wife, Joan, and has four children and four grandchildren.

The dinner will be held in the Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., Ballroom in the DeNaples Center. Cocktail hour on the DeNaples Center patio begins at 6 p.m. with the dinner to follow at 7. Tickets are $150 each, and corporate and special ticket packages are also available.

The Carlesimo Award Dinner was established in 2011 to celebrate athletics at The University of Scranton and to honor a person who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education. The Award Dinner also serves as a fund-raising event to support and enhance the student-athlete experience at Scranton. All proceeds from the dinner will directly benefit the University’s Athletics Department and the student-athletes it serves.

The University of Scranton has a distinguished athletics program with a rich history of success on the field and in the classroom. Scranton’s 18 intercollegiate teams, most of which are members of the Landmark Conference, have positioned the University as both a national and regional leader. The University’s notable accomplishments include: three NCAA Division III national titles, 16 NCAA Final Four appearances, 86 NCAA tournament appearances, 96 conference championships, 54 All-Americans, 25 Academic All-Americans and 15 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients.

For additional information or to make a reservation, contact Trish Krisiak at (570) 941-7724 or krisiakp2@scranton.edu.

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