Ed Cooley Signs Long-Term Contract Extension

[gosports1]

great news for PC and Cooley!

[GumbyDamnit!]

What's not to love about Cooley? Glad for him. Glad for PC.

Can't help thinking that he's just been a touch snake bitten. Some top level recruits that never got to see the floor, one that transferred (can you imagine if Pascal C had stuck around this year), and some tough tourney match ups, including playing a higher seed on their home court.

Keep doing what your doing Ed...PC is due for a major breakthrough in the next few years IMO.

I guess the Cooley World Order is pumped (lol).

[MackNova]

Cooley has done a great job, but does anyone else think it's weird that 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years makes someone worthy of a lifetime contract?

[Bill Marsh]

Interesting to note the similarities between Cooley and Jay Wright.

1. Both grew up near the college they now coach
2. Both went to a smaller nearby college that was a better match for their talent level so they could play college ball.
3. Both married a woman who graduated from the college they now coach.
4. Both seem to be a perfect fit and set for life where they are now.

[stever20]

Cooley has done a great job, but does anyone else think it's weird that 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years makes someone worthy of a lifetime contract?

I think part of it is that he's now got 3 appearances out of the 10 that PC has gotten since the tourney expanded to 64. And 3 of their 5 since 1997.

I think the biggest(only) red flag to me with Cooley is the # of big name transfers out that he's had here in the last few years.

[BigmanU]

Cooley has done a great job, but does anyone else think it's weird that 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years makes someone worthy of a lifetime contract?

The program is trending upward and he has accomplished more sustained success than any other Provy coach in almost 30 years. Really long term 40 years since Dave Gavitt! Pitino was there only two years and bolted after the Final 4 (1st year didn't make the tourney)

He's local and wants to stay home. I don't see the problem. I would also assume a buyout clause is in the contract if it really goes south.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Cooley has done a great job, but does anyone else think it's weird that 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years makes someone worthy of a lifetime contract?

3 straight NCAA tourney appearances (after a long period of unremarkable post season success)
1 BET Championship
The Dunk is rocking again.
Seems to be a good recruiter.
Seems to be well liked by his players and the school.
Represents the school well.

I think it is a smart move to try to lock him up there for a long time. Maybe they can make a run at being the top program in New England, supplanting UCONN.

[FenwayFriar]

Cooley has done a great job, but does anyone else think it's weird that 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years makes someone worthy of a lifetime contract?

Hey Mack, for anyone who doesn't follow the Friars closely as their #1 team I can see how they would think that. I'll try to list some of my personal top reasons below:

1. Watch this ESPN video from a few years ago: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6747376. His connection to the city and school is the #1 reason. He has made it clear that he doesn't want to go anywhere. Which leads us to reason #2...
2. Providence College has never been a "destination school." Unlike a school like Villanova or Georgetown, PC has mostly been seen as a "stepping stone" school (Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes, Pete Gillen, etc.). You cannot say enough about having job stability knowing your coach doesn't want to bolt for greener pastures. Having a coach build up your program, bring in recruits, and then leave without notice sets back your program for years. It's happened to us numerous times.
3. Yes, Cooley has only brought 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years. Again, for a school like Villanova or Georgetown this is nothing (although Gtown these days would take it). Before the win this year we hadn't won a NCAA Tournament game since 1997, almost 20 years! We only have 15 total NCAA Tournament wins in our entire program history (first was in 1965). So for us this is a big deal.
4. This season marked just the third time in the history of Friar basketball that the team reached the NCAA Tournament in 3 consecutive seasons.
5. It's the first time PC has had three-consecutive 20-win seasons since 1975-78.
6. PC finished the regular season with 22 wins, which was the most since 1978 and just the sixth team all-time at PC to accomplish the feat.
7. PC was ranked for 13 weeks during the season, including a #8 national ranking on January 4. It marked the Friars' highest ranking in the AP Poll since March 1, 1977 when the team was ranked #8.

As you can see, this is the most successful period in Friar basketball since the good ole' days in the 1970's. PC has been searching for the right fit for a long time and finally found it. Especially after the disaster that was Keno Davis, in which PC was literally a laughing stock of the entire nation. So while it may not seem like much by just looking at 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years, it's definitely the right move for us!

[FriarJ]

The school is also going through a period currently of some racial tension. A group of students had a sit in in the Presidents office recently in regards to minority studies. There is a component of what Ed brings to the school in regards to that. Bob Driscoll hints at it in the video below.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBGHlL3leYk[/youtube]

[RetireFiftyTu]

Cooley has done a great job, but does anyone else think it's weird that 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years makes someone worthy of a lifetime contract?

Hey Mack, for anyone who doesn't follow the Friars closely as their #1 team I can see how they would think that. I'll try to list some of my personal top reasons below:

1. Watch this ESPN video from a few years ago: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6747376. His connection to the city and school is the #1 reason. He has made it clear that he doesn't want to go anywhere. Which leads us to reason #2...
2. Providence College has never been a "destination school." Unlike a school like Villanova or Georgetown, PC has mostly been seen as a "stepping stone" school (Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes, Pete Gillen, etc.). You cannot say enough about having job stability knowing your coach doesn't want to bolt for greener pastures. Having a coach build up your program, bring in recruits, and then leave without notice sets back your program for years. It's happened to us numerous times.
3. Yes, Cooley has only brought 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years. Again, for a school like Villanova or Georgetown this is nothing (although Gtown these days would take it). Before the win this year we hadn't won a NCAA Tournament game since 1997, almost 20 years! We only have 15 total NCAA Tournament wins in our entire program history (first was in 1965). So for us this is a big deal.
4. This season marked just the third time in the history of Friar basketball that the team reached the NCAA Tournament in 3 consecutive seasons.
5. It's the first time PC has had three-consecutive 20-win seasons since 1975-78.
6. PC finished the regular season with 22 wins, which was the most since 1978 and just the sixth team all-time at PC to accomplish the feat.
7. PC was ranked for 13 weeks during the season, including a #8 national ranking on January 4. It marked the Friars' highest ranking in the AP Poll since March 1, 1977 when the team was ranked #8.

As you can see, this is the most successful period in Friar basketball since the good ole' days in the 1970's. PC has been searching for the right fit for a long time and finally found it. Especially after the disaster that was Keno Davis, in which PC was literally a laughing stock of the entire nation. So while it may not seem like much by just looking at 1 NCAA Tournament win in 5 years, it's definitely the right move for us!

I like Cooley and think he will only get better as a coach. And I love the "Culture Matters" motto. It's true. He has rebuilt the culture at Providence, which will set them up for future success.
Having a coach come in, bring in recruits, and then leave without notice has also happened to Xavier numerous times. Xavier hasn't been set back. In fact, you could argue that each time they have gotten a new coach, starting with Pete Gillen, they have improved from the previous coaches regime. That's why Xavier is in the Big East now because they have survived and then thrived after coaching changes. I hope Mack and Cooley stick around for a long time at Xavier and Providence so they both are consistently top programs in the Big East.