Former St. John's baseball coach, player Russo dies at 74

NEW YORK (AP) — Former St. John's baseball coach and player Joe Russo, who captained the team to the College World Series in 1966 as a slick-fielding shortstop and returned twice as the program's skipper, has died. He was 74.

The university announced Monday in a statement that Russo died Sunday after a long illness.

Russo played four years at St. John's under coach Jack Kaiser, and was selected to the College World Series all-tournament team in 1966. He took over as coach of the program in 1974, when Kaiser became the school's athletic director.

Russo went 612-310 in 22 seasons with St. John's, including CWS appearances in 1978 and 1980. The second of those squads included future major league All-Star pitchers Frank Viola and John Franco.

"So sorry to hear of the passing of my @StJohnsBaseball baseball coach, Joe Russo," Viola, the 1988 AL Cy Young Award winner, wrote on Twitter. "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."

Among other future big leaguers Russo coached at St. John's included Rich Aurilia, C.J. Nitkowski, Terry Bross and Wayne Rosenthal.

"Coach Russo was greatly respected in the college baseball community, not only in the Northeast, but throughout the country," said Nitkowski, who pitched at St. John's for two seasons before being selected No. 9 overall by Cincinnati in the 1994 baseball draft.

"The two years I spent in a Johnnies uniform under Coach dramatically changed both my baseball and personal life. ... His track record on the field speaks for itself, but his impact on so many of his players over the years is likely greater than he ever realized. He will be missed, but his impact and legacy live on. Thanks, Coach."

Russo was the...