A 1940 graduate of Fordham, Carlesimo played football with legend Vince Lombardi. He then went on to coach football at Scranton from 1944-60, basketball from 1944-46 and 1951-55, cross country from 1961-68 and was athletic director from 1953-68. He then returned to Fordham, where he was athletic director from 1968-78. While there, he served on the NIT committee, helping put games in the early rounds on campuses starting in 1977 which led to increased ticket sales. When he left Fordham, he became the NIT's first full-time executive director, holding that post from 1978-88. During this time, he created the Preseason NIT in 1985, so NIT events would bookend the college basketball season.