Legendary Princeton Coach Pete Carril Dies at 92

Legendary Princeton men’s basketball coach Pete Carril, who authored the revolutionary Princeton Offense passed away Monday morning at Penn Hospital in Philadelphia.

Carril was 92 years old.

Carril’s family released a statement via the university’s athletics website.

“The Carril family is sad to report that Coach Peter J. Carril passed away peacefully this morning,” the statement read.

“We kindly ask that you please respect our privacy at this time as we process our loss and handle necessary arrangements. More information will be forthcoming in the following days.”

Before coaching, Carril served in the U.S. Army as a public information officer at the conclusion of the Korean War. After his time in the service, Carril got his start in high school basketball at Easton Area High School, and later, at Reading Senior High School in Easton, Penn.

In 1967, Carril was hired as the men’s basketball coach at Princeton following a one-year stint at Lehigh. He remained with the Tigers’ program for 29 years, compiling a 514–261 record (.663) with 13 Ivy League regular-season titles and a 1975 NIT championship crown. He retired from his post as Princeton coach in ’96 and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in ’97.

After Princeton, Carril served as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings for 10 years until his retirement in 2006. Carril would later return three years later as an assistant coach with the Kings for one season in ’07 before retiring for good.