Providence head coach Ed Cooley agrees to multi-year extension
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College President Reverend
Kenneth Sicard, O.P. and Vice President/Athletics
Director Steve Napolillo announced today that Ed
Cooley has agreed to a multi-year contract extension to remain
head coach of the men's basketball program.
"Providence is my home and Providence is where I want to be,"
Cooley said. "Not many coaches are able to live the dream of
coaching in their hometown and I feel blessed every day that I have
this opportunity. I have had the good fortune of working for
great administrators and coaching some of the best players in the
country. I believe in the leadership at Providence College and with
that I want to thank Fr. Sicard and Steve Napolillo for
allowing me to continue my career in Friartown. The support
that our donors and fans have shown toward our program has grown to
new heights over the last 11 years. We had a special season
in 2022, and I am excited as we look ahead to this season and the
opportunity to compete for another BIG EAST title."
Cooley, who earned Naismith Coach of the Year honors, guided
the Friars to a 27-6 mark in 2022. Cooley also was named
National Coach of the Year by The Sporting News and The Field of
68. His team, which earned the highest seed ever for the
Friars (No. 4 seed), advanced to NCAA Sweet 16 where the squad was
defeated by eventual national champion Kansas, 66-61, on March
25. It marked the sixth time overall and the first time in 25
years (1997) that the Friars reached the Sweet 16. The
Friars' 27 victories are tied for the second highest single-season
win total in the history of the program. The 27 wins also
marked the sixth time in his 11 seasons at Providence that his team
earned 20 or more victories. Cooley also led the Friars to a
16-1 record at home, which is the squad's best mark since 1973-74
(16-0).
In March, Cooley was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year. He
became the first Friar coach to earn that honor. In BIG EAST
league play, the Friars set a team record for wins after
registering a 14-3 mark and capturing the program's first BIG EAST
Regular Season title. The Friars, who finished the regular
season in first place, were picked to finish seventh in the annual
BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll which was released in
October. Providence did not have a player selected to the
All-BIG EAST First Team. Cooley became just the seventh coach, and
first since 2012, to earn BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors without
having a player earn All-BIG EAST First Team accolades. The
Friars also won a team-record eight consecutive BIG EAST games this
season.
"Ed Cooley is such an inspirational member of our College
community," Providence College President Fr. Kenneth R. Sicard,
O.P., said. "There is widespread agreement that he is an excellent
basketball coach as underscored by his recent recognition as the
Naismith Coach of the Year. But he is so much more than that
to our Friar family. Ed is fully engaged in the depth and breadth
of the Providence College mission and the daily life of the
College. We are so very pleased with and grateful for his continued
commitment to PC, and this contract extension is, in turn, our
commitment to him that we will continue to support him and the
men's basketball program to the highest degree."
"In all great relationships there is a commitment to support each
other at the highest level," Providence College Vice
President/Athletics Director Napolillo said. "This
contract extension is an example of the commitment to Ed, the
program, and his family as we strive to reach our goal of winning
BIG EAST and national championships together. Ed has shown he is
the perfect fit as a coach and an ambassador for Providence
College. He and his wife, Nurys, and his family are part of the
Friar community. I look forward to working with Coach Cooley
for many years to come."
Cooley, who is entering his 12th season at Providence, has posted a
221-141 mark during his time with the Friars. He ranks second
all-time in wins at Providence. Cooley also coached for five
seasons at Fairfield (2006-2011) and registered a 92-69 mark.
In 16 seasons as a head coach, he has posted a 313-210 record,
which includes six NCAA Tournament appearances and two NIT
selections at Providence. His 2014 Friar squad captured the
BIG EAST Tournament title.
Prior to becoming the head coach at Fairfield, Cooley spent nine
seasons at Boston College as an assistant coach under Al
Skinner.