College basketball legend Pete Carril died Wednesday at the age of 92. The American coach, born in Pennsylvania in 1930, was considered one of the fathers of modern basketball thanks to his performance in the Princeton University (New Jersey), of which he was a coach for 29 years (1967-1996) and where he achieved more than 500 victories. After his impressive performance in the college league, he made the jump to the NBA as an assistant coach in the Sacramento Kingsin two stages, and in the Washington Wizards until in 2011 he retired from the bench.
“The Carril family is sad to report that Coach Peter J. Carril passed away peacefully this morning. We kindly ask that our privacy be respected at this time while we process our loss and handle any necessary arrangements. There will be more information in the coming days,” the coach’s family reported this morning.
Regardless of the number of wins Carril has earned, his legacy is based on how his team achieved them. His script (‘The Princton Attack’) was based, broadly, on the circulation of the ball and the three-point shot, slogans that have marked modern basketball and that have led to its maximum expression, although with nuances, teams like Golden State Warriorslast great NBA dynasty and current champions of the competition.
Outside the fields, the myth is particularly related to Spain. Carril was the son of Spanish immigrants to the United States, from the Leonese town of The Rooms, to the north of the province, who crossed the pond to work in the emerging American metallurgical industry. Although Carril spent most of his life in the United States, already retired, he made several trips to Spain to pursue his family’s origins, trips in which he also had the opportunity to watch several matches of the Spanish team in his most glorious stage.
