By WFAN.com
Joe Russo, who coached the St. John's baseball program for more than two decades, died Sunday following a long illness, the university said Monday. He was 74.
Russo played for St. John's and was the captain of the 1966 team that reached the College World Series. The shortstop was named to the All-Tournament team.
Eight years later, Russo took over the St. John's program and spent 22 seasons as its head coach. He went 612-310 and led the program to two more CWS appearances, in 1978 and 1980.
Russo, who also coached Team USA in the 1995 Pan-American Games, was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997.
"I am saddened by the news of the passing of Coach Joe Russo," St. John's coach Ed Blankmeyer said in a news release issued by the school. "His Hall of Fame coaching career elevated St. John's to national prominence. I would personally like to extend my sincere condolences to the Russo family."
Russo's former players include major leaguers Frank Viola, John Franco and C.J. Nitkowski.
"So sorry to hear of the passing of my @StJohnsBaseball baseball coach, Joe Russo," Viola wrote on Twitter on Monday. "Believed in me from the start. Gave me the opportunity to shine right from the get-go. Deepest condolences to entire Russo family. You are all in our hearts."
So sorry to hear of the passing of my @StJohnsBaseball baseball coach, Joe Russo. Believed in me from the start. Gave me the opportunity to shine right from the get-go. Deepest condolences to entire Russo family. You are all in our hearts.
— Frank J. Viola, Jr. (@FrankViola16) May 27, 2019"Coach Russo was greatly respected in the college baseball community, not only in the Northeast, but throughout the country," Nitkowski said in the university's news release. "Personally he had a huge impact on my career. I was a freshman transfer coming off a subpar season but Coach Russo was still willing to take a chance on me. The two years I spent in a Johnnies uniform under Coach dramatically changed both my baseball and personal life."
