Saverio ‘Pic’ Picariello was legendary head coach Clair Bee’s assistant coach and right-hand man through all of the successes in the 1930’s and 1940’s in football, baseball and particularly, basketball. 

Picariello was a great innovator of the game of basketball who helped originate "hands-up" defense. He helped LIU capture NIT titles in the 1938-39 and 1940-41 seasons and to undefeated seasons in 1935-36 and 1938-39.

Picariello’s legendary career as the coach of six sports at LIU spanned more than 30 years.