Join Us in Honoring Coach Carlesi!
The late Coach John Carlesi (1967–2025) was more than a baseball coach—he was a mentor, a guide, and a tireless supporter of the Stuyvesant community. For over two decades, he served as the head coach of the Stuyvesant Peglegs Baseball Team, instilling in his players not only the fundamentals of baseball but the values of perseverance, teamwork, and integrity.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Coach Carlesi grew up immersed in baseball, idolizing players like Pete Rose for their grit and intelligence on the field. He carried that passion into his own playing career at St. Leo University, before dedicating himself to teaching and coaching. Coach Carlesi joined the Peglegs as head coach in 2002 and led the varsity team to numerous winning seasons, including a semi-finals run in 2022, while earning recognition as the 2024 Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance Coach of the Year.
Coach Carlesi’s influence extended far beyond the diamond. He was renowned for going above and beyond for his students—staying overnight in hospitals with injured players, traveling hours for extra practices, or simply taking time to mentor students in their personal lives. Alumni and current players alike recall his generosity, humor, love of Superman, and unwavering belief in their potential. To many he was their very own superhero. “Coach was the only coach I knew who truly cared about every single one of his players on and off the field,” shared one 2025 alumnus.
Campaign To Name The Stuyvesant weight room
Coach Carlesi’s legacy will continue through the Stuyvesant community. To honor his profound impact, the Alumni Association, in partnership with parents and the school administration, is seeking support to renovate and rename the Weight Lifting Room to the “Coach John Carlesi Training Center” in his memory. Proceeds will fund upgrades to training equipment and facilities for all Stuyvesant students as well as a Scholarship for young athletes, ensuring that Coach Carlesi’s dedication to student-athletes lives on for generations.
Join us in celebrating Coach Carlesi’s extraordinary life, his devotion to baseball, and the countless lives he touched with kindness, courage, and heart.
Ways To Give
The Stuyvesant High School Alumni Association (SHSAA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. You can donate directly via our website below. If you would prefer to send a check, please make it payable to “Stuyvesant HS Alumni Association,” note the "Coach Carlesi Fund" in the memo line, and mail it to:
Stuyvesant HS Alumni Association
P.O. Box 3531
New York, NY 10008
Maximize the impact of your gift by utilizing your employer’s matching gift program! Please use our Employer Matching Database to check if your gift is eligible for matching.
Note: Please contact us at alumni@shsaa.org about a pledge or information about how to make a gift through a Donor Advised Fund.