Former Providence Friars men's basketball coach Ed Cooley has accepted an offer from Georgetown to become its next head coach, according to Matt Norlander at CBS Sports,Rumors had been swirling for a couple weeks, and on Monday it was confirmed.
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Cooley leaves the head coaching role at Providence, in what he has previously called his "dream job," having grown up in Rhode Island's biggest city. The head coach position at Georgetown became available after Patrick Ewing was fired following a less than stellar six-year tenure.
Georgetown Hopes Hoya Paranoia Returns With Cooley
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Providence College president Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard had nothing but nice things to say about Cooley in a statement on Monday:
"I deeply appreciate Coach Cooley's immense contributions to the men's basketball program and to the PC community over the past 12 years. 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. I wish him, Nurys, and their family the best in their future."
Over those 12 years as head coach of the Friars, Cooley won 242 games, had a winning percentage of .613, and brought Providence College to the NCAA tournament seven times, the most of any head coach in the program's history. He also led the Friars to their first regular season Big East title in 2022.
The hire is a big deal for the Hoyas, as it marks the first time since 1972 that someone who was not directly affiliated to Hall of Fame coach John Thompson Jr. will be coaching Georgetown. After Thompson's retirement in 1999, the Hoyas hired his assistant, Craig Esherick, his son, John Thompson III, and a former player, Patrick Ewing.
Cooley has quite the project ahead of him, as the Hoyas finished last in the Big East this season, going 2-18 in conference play and 7-25 overall. A win against Depaul on January 24th snapped a 29- game losing streak in Big East play that started in 2021. Over the last 10 years, they've only made It to the NCAA tournament twice, in 2015 and 2021.
Georgetown is hoping the success that Ed Cooley has at Providence will find its way to Washington, D.C.
MORE: 'I Will Always Be a Hoya': The Patrick Ewing Experiment at Georgetown is Finally Over
