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Updated: PC’s Ed Cooley on to Georgetown, puts EG home on market for $1.9 million
Updated: After local media picked up on the presentation of PC Coach Ed Cooley’s home on real estate websites at 7am Monday morning, it was a few hours later before Providence College would issue a press release that they are, indeed, recruiting for a new Coach of Providence College Men’s Basketball. It is the first time a Big East team recruited a coach from another Big East team.
Early afternoon, this statement from PC as it announces its immediate national search. Students interviewed referred to Cooley being the “face of Providence College” – “it’s a wound that’s tough to heal” – etc. Perhaps the making of a coach as a hometown, college hero, was too much or inadvisable. In any case, a hard lesson for the students. PC’s statemet:
“Providence College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. and Athletics Director Steve Napolillo announced today that the College will begin a national search for a men’s basketball coach. The new coach will replace Ed Cooley, who resigned earlier today. Cooley coached the Friars for 12 seasons and posted a 242-153 mark.
“I deeply appreciate Coach Cooley’s immense contributions to the men’s basketball program and to the PC community over the past 12 years,” Father Sicard said. “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.
“To our fans, let me state this without equivocation: We remain committed to competing at the highest level of men’s basketball,” Father Sicard continued. “Our facilities, our fan support, and our record of success demonstrate the impact of that commitment, and I have full confidence that we will identify and hire a new coach who will build on this strong foundation and lead Friar basketball to continued excellence on a national level.”
“I would like to thank Ed Cooley for the efforts which he put forth over the last 12 years guiding our men’s basketball program,” Napolillo said. “He helped the program achieve a high level of success during that time. I, along with Fr. Sicard, wish him, his wife, Nurys, and his family all the best in the future. The Providence College family is excited to move forward with the hiring of the next great coach of the Friar men’s basketball program. 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.”
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Statement of Georgetown University:
“Georgetown University announced today that Ed Cooley has been named the head coach of its men’s basketball program.
“We are deeply honored that Coach Cooley will be joining our community as the next leader of our Men’s basketball program. Ed is a proven leader and an experienced coach, whose values and knowledge of the game will lead our program into this new chapter. His commitment to excellence on and off the court will bring out the best of our basketball program and will give each member of our team the experiences and support they need to thrive. We look forward to welcoming Ed and his family into this new role in our community,” said Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia.
“This is an exciting moment for Georgetown men’s basketball as we welcome Ed Cooley and his family to the Hilltop,” said Francis X. Rienzo Director of Athletics Lee Reed. “Coach Cooley is a mentor to young men, and a consistent winner with an impressive body of work. His previous experience gives him an understanding of our Jesuit values and I am confident that he is the coach to return our program to prominence within the BIG EAST and nationally.”
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at Georgetown University. President DeGioia and Athletics Director Lee Reed are united in a strong vision, including in their beliefs, for Georgetown’s program, its players and the team’s success. 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, and was made in careful consideration with my wife and family,” said Cooley.
He continued, “I was born and raised in the Providence College basketball program and am grateful to the college, its President Kenneth Sicard and its Athletic Director, Steve Napolillo, from whom I could not have received better support. I am blessed to have worked in this extraordinary conference with great players, coaches, athletic directors, and fans, and I look forward to my new opportunity.”
Over the last 12 seasons at Providence College, Cooley has posted a 242-153 record, which includes seven trips to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2022, a BIG EAST regular season title (2022) and a BIG EAST Tournament title (2014). In 17 seasons as a head coach, Cooley has a 334-222 record with stints at Providence College (2011-23) and Fairfield University (2006-11). In 2022, Cooley was the recipient of the Naismith Coach of the Year Award, named the Sporting News Coach of the Year, the BIG EAST Coach of the Year, the NABC District 5 Coach of the Year and the USBWA District 1 Coach of the Year.
The University will host a press conference on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 on campus at Nolan Hall, located within the John R. Thompson Athletics Center, to publicly introduce Cooley to the Georgetown community. Georgetown worked with TurnkeyZRG, the top talent recruitment firm in sports, which has recently placed the President of the NCAA, and the Commissioners of the ACC, Pac-12 and Big 12.
Cooley was responsible for turning around the Friar program. Prior to his arrival in 2011, Providence had finished under .500 in six of the 10 previous seasons and made just one trip to the NCAA Tournament (2004) in that 10-year span. Following Cooley’s arrival, he led the Friars to nine postseason tournament berths, including seven straight from 2013-19. In 2022, he guided the team to the NCAA Sweet 16 and the program’s first BIG EAST regular season title. In 2014, he led the team to the BIG EAST Tournament title.
During his time at Providence, Cooley has coached five All-Americans. He also has had players earn two BIG EAST Player of Year honors, two BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year accolades, three BIG EAST Most Improved Player awards, one BIG EAST Tournament MVP, five BIG EAST All-Tournament Team accolades, two BIG EAST All-Rookie Team awards, one BIG EAST Sportsmanship honor and 12 All-BIG EAST honors.
Prior to his time at Providence, Cooley guided Fairfield University to a school-record 25 wins and a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season title in 2010-11. He was named the 2011 MAAC Coach of the Year and the 2011 United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) District I Coach of the Year honors as his squad advanced to the second round of the NIT.
In five seasons at Fairfield, Cooley’s teams posted a 92-69 mark, including a 58-32 record in MAAC action. In 2010 Cooley was the first recipient of the Ben Jobe Award, presented annually to the top minority men’s basketball coach in the nation.
Prior to taking the Fairfield position, Cooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach for Al Skinner (Rhode Island – 1996-97; Boston College – 1997-2006). During his time with BC, the Eagles advanced to five NCAA Tournaments and one NIT, secured the 2001 BIG EAST Tournament title and three BIG EAST regular season titles (2001, 2003 and 2005).
A 1994 graduate of Stonehill College, he was a three-time captain for the basketball team and was inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. Cooley began his coaching career at UMass-Dartmouth. He helped lead UMass-Dartmouth to a 25-4 mark and a No. 3 national ranking (1994-95). He returned to his alma mater to serve as an assistant coach for one season (1995-96).
Cooley is a native of Providence, Rhode Island and attended Central High School, earning two Rhode Island High School Player of the Year honors. He did a postgraduate year at New Hampton Prep before attending Stonehill. He and his wife Nurys have a daughter Olivia, who attends Georgetown University, and a son Isaiah.”
Earlier on Monday:
What does it mean? Are there no coincidences? This one seems pretty obvious.
At approximately 7am, Providence College basketball coach Ed Cooley lists his East Greenwich home for sale for $1.9 million. The home is listed with Residential Properties.
Described as an “Exclusive enclave, “The Woods” is the setting for this elegant classic Hampton Colonial….. A very special offering!
View listing with 50+ photos, here: https://www.aliciareynoldsrealtor.com/single-family/ris/1034505512/55-lenihan-lane-east-greenwich-ri-02818
What does it mean? Inquiring minds want to know.
Cooley loved his home – and often posted photos and videos of him enjoying his pool and backyard:
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Family
Cooley’s family is kept out of the limelight. Notably, daughter, Olivia, is a student at Georgetown, having graduated from Moses Brown in Providence. His son, Isaiah, works at Herren Wellness as a Wellness Associate.
Cooley’s wife, Nurys was born Nurys Carmen Jimenez Medina and is from Puerto Rico. According to FabWhags, she was once a police officer and in 2019 Cooley gave her her diploma as she crossed the stage at Providence College. She worked as a Nurse’s Aid at the Providence Ambulatory Healthcare Foundation
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11 years ago…
It’s a ‘no’ from Rick Pitino stepping back?
When Rick Pitino left Providence he was a healthy contributor, according to our sources, to the building of the Providence College Chapel, located near the Grotto area on campus. His quote at the time was that he was donating handsomely because he knew he would be returning home to Providence College when he was ready to end his career.
A week ago or so – Rick Pitino is leaving Iona and has been offered a position at St. John’s. But! He has not yet accepted this position.
UPDATED: Late Monday afternoon, Rick Pitino accepted the job as Coach of St. John’s men’s basketball – about 17 miles away from where he is right now.
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Ed Cooley made a spirit chant famous at Providence College, for Providence, and for the state of Rhode Island. The familiar chant – Us, We, Together, Family, Friars:
He will now have to learn the Georgetown chant:
“Together we are stronger. Together we are unstoppable. We are Georgetown.”
This is a developing story…