“In a team sport like basketball, every time you help somebody, you help yourself”
Pete Carril was an iconic coach at Princeton, not just for perfecting the Princeton offense that has influenced so many offenses across the NCAA and the NBA, but also for the integrity, character, and love that he instilled in his players every year. From 1967-1996, Carril coached the Princeton Tigers, leading them to 514 wins, 13 Ivy League titles, and even an NIT championship. Across these three decades, Coach Carril put an emphasis on team basketball, working harder to make things easier, and winning with intelligence.
Following his collegiate coaching career, Carril spent 10 years as an assistant coach in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings and helped prove that the Princeton offense could also work at the highest level as well. From 2001-2006 before Carril retired, the Kings showcased one of the most efficient offenses in the entire league. He coached legendary players such as Vlade Divac, Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby, and Doug Christie.
In 2004, Pete Carril wrote a book explaining his basketball philosophy titled: “The Smart Take from the Strong”, which is also full of beautiful, heartwarming, and humorous quotes and stories to go along with his knowledge of the game. He remains enshrined in both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Carril passed away on August 15th, 2022.
Coach Carril Nearly Led the First 16 Seeded Upset in March Madness in 1989
The game that the Carril-led Tigers are most known for is their 43-41 upset over the defending NCAA Champions and #4 seeded UCLA Bruins in 1996. Not only was it considered one of the greatest upsets in NCAA history but Carril announced that it would be his final season coaching Princeton right after the game. Princeton lost the following game and this stunning win ended up being his final collegiate win.
Perhaps the even more impressive performance came seven years prior however, when Carril and the Tigers nearly became the first #16 to advance in the NCAA Tournament. Princeton had missed the NCAA tournament the previous four seasons before 1989. They came with a vengeance as they faced #1 seeded Georgetown, led by NBA legend, Alonzo Mourning. With just seconds left in the game, Princeton had a chance to take the lead and steal the most impressive win in NCAA history. Ultimately the Tigers ended up falling just short, losing 49-50.
Despite the loss, many people viewed this as the game that saved March Madness, and we all have Pete Carril to thank.