Providence basketball coach Ed Cooley is leaving; here's what went into his decision

Ed Cooley is leaving his childhood home for the nation’s capital.

Georgetown has hired Cooley as its next head coach, ending weeks of speculation that this was his last season in Providence. The Friars officially announced his departure in a Monday afternoon statement, and the Hoyas later confirmed his arrival. Cooley met virtually on Sunday with Georgetown representatives from his East Greenwich home.

"I deeply appreciate Coach Cooley’s immense contributions to the men’s basketball program and to the PC community over the past 12 years,” school president Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard said in a statement. “Friar fans everywhere will be forever grateful for this period of sustained excellence in our program, and I personally will continue to have the highest regard for Ed."

Cooley has been the subject of speculation connecting him to a move away from the Friars for the better part of the last two weeks. Georgetown dismissed program legend Patrick Ewing following a Big East Tournament loss to Villanova, ending his six-year tenure. Cooley was the rumored top target for the Hoyas and declined multiple opportunities to publicly commit his future to Providence. On Monday morning, his family's East Greenwich home was listed for sale for $1.9 million.

In a statement issued by Georgetown, Cooley said: "I plan on hitting the ground running, getting to work on the court and cultivating relationships in and around the District. Accepting this opportunity with Georgetown is not a decision I took lightly.”

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Ed Cooley is a Providence native, former Central High star player

Cooley’s move ends his 12-year tenure with the program he grew up following as a Central High student in the 1980s. His last game with the Friars was a 61-53 loss to Kentucky at Greensboro Coliseum, a Friday night East Region matchup in the NCAA Tournament. It was the seventh edition of March Madness for Cooley at Providence, extending his school record for appearances.

"Doubt gives us an opportunity to prove people wrong," Cooley said following the close of a 21-12 season. "We didn’t win today, but over the course of the time we’ve been here we’ve proven a lot of people wrong. Providence College is an elite-level school and an elite-level basketball program."

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Cooley alluded to a possible need for a personal change during his weekly television show on Sunday night, "PC Hoops with Coach Cooley" on Fox Providence and WPRI. He received a Sunday morning home visit from Friars athletic director Steve Napolillo and spoke about his immediate future along with his wife, Nurys. Cooley described the “loyalty and love and respect” shown by Napolillo and Sicard and said the fact that he was hired by predecessors Bob Driscoll and Rev. Brian J. Shanley, respectively, would have nothing to do with his decision.

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“Providence is always going to be my home,” Cooley said. “It’ll be my home forever. Providence College is my job — it's a special place to me. Sometimes in life, change is needed for emotional stability, for wellness.

“Just because you’re at a place, that doesn’t mean everything is forever. Providence has always been my dream job, and I’ll continue to say that. Sometimes circumstances change and it has nothing to do with administrators. It has nothing to do with athletic directors. It has all to do with what me and my wife feel is something that we may possibly need.

“We won’t know that until we have an open and honest conversation.”

Cooley's 242 career wins at Providence trail only the 290 posted by Joe Mullaney during his two stints in charge. Cooley is the only coach to tally 100 conference victories with the Friars, reaching that milestone last season. Rick Pitino is the only other Providence coach to post a winning career record in league play, going a modest 17-15 during his two seasons from 1985-87.

Cooley has been the subject of job speculation at other points in his career. Michigan made an approach for his services at the close of the 2018-19 season before eventually hiring program legend Juwan Howard. Cooley was given a contract extension with the Friars that ran well into the 2020s.

Ewing’s time at his alma mater included just 28 league wins and a lone NCAA Tournament appearance. Georgetown went 0-19 in conference play last year and 7-25 overall in 2022-23. It was considered a clear underachievement for a school that still features vast financial resources, sound facilities and a strong local region to recruit. Fox Sports reported the Hoyas would be willing to pay Cooley upwards of $6 million per season — an annual raise of roughly 50% and the top salary in the conference by a wide margin — to come aboard.

Providence basketball has come a long way under Ed Cooley

Cooley’s highlights include the second conference tournament title in program history in 2014 and the first regular-season crown in 2021-22. He led the program to its first Sweet 16 appearance in 25 years last season, falling to eventual national champion Kansas in the Midwest Region. Providence finished 27-6 overall and Cooley swept both Naismith National and Big East Coach of the Year honors.

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Cooley became the first Black men’s basketball coach in program history when he was hired away from Fairfield for the 2011-12 season. He aspired to represent possibility to the city and state community of color in similar fashion to his coaching heroes — John Thompson with the Hoyas, John Chaney at Temple and Nolan Richardson at Arkansas, among others. Cooley was an assistant at the University of Rhode Island and Boston College under Al Skinner before the Stags offered him their head coaching job in 2006-07.

Cooley successfully recruited or developed some of the premier players in program history. Bryce Cotton, LaDontae Henton, Kris Dunn, Ben Bentil and David Duke all earned at least honorable mention All-American selections from the Associated Press. Dunn was a two-time conference Player of the Year and joined Cotton, Bentil and Duke in reaching the NBA.

Leaving for conference rival is a Big East first

Leaving the Friars in this fashion handed Cooley another first — no other men’s basketball coach has ever bolted a Big East school directly for a conference rival. This will certainly complicate what should have been an unassailable legacy during Cooley’s time in charge. Providence has advanced by leaps and bounds with its program and on its campus at large when it comes to funding, facilities and general operations.

"The Providence College family is excited to move forward with the hiring of the next great coach of the Friar men's basketball program," Napolillo said in a statement. "Providence College is a strong academic institution with tremendous athletic facilities, one of the best home atmospheres in college basketball, and a member of the Big East Conference. I am so appreciative that Friartown has the greatest fans in the country."

The Friars will need a coach in place rather quickly if they hope to preserve at least some of their 2023-24 roster. Incoming freshman guard Garwey Dual, a consensus four-star national prospect, announced his de-commitment from Providence via his personal Twitter page. Veteran point guard Jared Bynum has entered the transfer portal and could pursue a sixth year of college elsewhere.

Cooley will be expected to restore what once was a proud legacy in Washington, D.C. Georgetown won a national championship in 1984, part of a four-year span during which it reached the title game three times. The Hoyas have advanced to five Final Fours in program history, with their most recent coming under John Thompson III in 2007.

bkoch@providencejournal.com  

On Twitter: @BillKoch25 

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ed Cooley, Providence basketball coach accepts job at Georgetown