Providence Friars men’s basketball head coach Ed Cooley is leaving, the school announced on Monday. Georgetown University later announced that Cooley has accepted its head coaching position.
The Providence native often described the Friars coaching job as his dream job, and he leaves after twelve years at the helm, during which his teams amassed a winning record of 242-153 and notched seven NCAA tournament berths. He earned the school’s first Big East regular-season title in 2022.
Still, Friars fans will be stung, as Cooley leaves at just 53-years-old for a conference rival. The school says it will conduct a national search for Cooley’s replacement.
“I deeply appreciate Coach Cooley’s immense contributions to the men’s basketball program and to the PC community over the past 12 years,” Providence College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard said in a press release. “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 all the best in their future.”
Cooley, a graduate of Providence’s Central High School, started his coaching career at UMass-Dartmouth and had stops at Stonehill College, URI, BC and Fairfield University before landing at Providence College in 2011.
This developing story will be updated.
