NEW: PC Signs Basketball Coach Cooley to Long Term Contract Extension
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
NEW: PC Signs Basketball Coach Cooley to Long Term Contract Extension
"Providence has always been my destination. Father Shanley and Bob Driscoll have made a tremendous commitment to compete at the highest level and I appreciate all their support. Nurys and I wanted to acknowledge this support and appreciate Providence College by giving back. We are excited that we will be a Providence College for life," said Ed Cooley in a statement.
In five seasons at Providence, Ed Cooley has led the Friars to four straight post season appearances, including three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. In the five seasons, Cooley is 103-67 overall.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThis past season, the Friars went 24-11 overall and 10-8 in the Big East. Providence went to NCAA Tournament and won their first NCAA Tournament game in 19 seasons defeating USC.
"We feel this contract extension is an important part of the process in continuing to build our basketball program. Ed has done so much for the College and the athletics department. He indicated to us that he wants to finish is coaching career at Providence College and he is the person we want to guide our men's basketball program. We are thrilled that Ed will be a Friar for life," said athletics director Bob Driscoll in a statement issued by PC.
Cooley and his wife, Nurys, have also announced that they will donate $500,000 to the academic portion of the soon-to-be constructed Ruane Friar Development Center.
“Coach Cooley has demonstrated in many ways and on many occasions that he is the right coach for Providence College. The College has benefited greatly from his leadership, both on and off the court, and I am pleased to affirm that leadership with this extension of his contract. I look forward to him continuing as the Head Coach of Providence College Men’s Basketball for many years to come. I also want to express the College’s and my own personal gratitude to Ed and Nurys for their generous gift toward the academic portion of the Friar Development Center," said Father Shanley.
Prior to Cooley coming to Providence in 2011, the Friars had finished under .500 in 6 of 10 previous seasons, with just one NCAA Tournament appearance (2004) in that span.
Ed Cooley
Cooley is a Providence native and attended Central High School where he earned two Rhode Island High School Player of the Year honors before attending Stonehill.
Top 10 Memorable Moments From PC's Season
10.
Kris Dunn's Dunk en route to a Triple Double vs. Hartford
En route to his second career triple-double, Kris Dunn had this dunk early in the second half. At the time, the two points gave Dunn a double-double after he dished out 11 assists in the first half.
Dunn would finish the game with 16 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds to become only the third Friar is program history to have more than one triple-double. The other two players are Marvin Barnes and Bob Misevicius.
See the Play Below
9.
Bentil's Block vs. Butler in Big East Season Opener
In the Friars Big East season opener against Butler, ranked #9 in the country at the time, Ben Bentil came up with this block ending an otherwise nice back door play by the Bulldogs.
The Friars beat Butler 81-73.
See the Play Below
8.
Friars Get to 8th in Country
On Monday, January 4 the Providence College Friars were ranked #8 in the country in the AP Poll and #9 in the country in the Coaches Poll.
At the time, the Friars were 2-0 in the Big East and 14-1 overall on the season and riding an 8 game winning streak, their longest winning streak since 1993-1994.
7.
Friars Here Name Called on Selection Sunday
For the 3rd straight season, the Friars heard their name called on selection Sunday. Providence was given a 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were set up against USC in the first round in Raleigh North Carolina.
6.
Dunn Reaches 1,000 Career Points on Insane Layup
Kris Dunn reaches the 1,000 point plateau with this insane layup on the road against Georgetown on Saturday night.
To cap the game off, Providence beat Georgetown on the road and would beat them again later in the season to complete the season sweep.
See the Play Below
5.
Dunn's Spinning Step Back Jumper vs. Arizona
In the early season Wooden Legacy Award tournament, Kris Dunn hit this spinning step back jumper to give Providence a 67-65 lead over #11 Arizona.
The Friars would go on to pull off the upset, winning 69-65 and advanced to the championship game.
Dunn finished with 19 points, 10 of which came in the final 2:30 of the game.
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4.
Kris Dunn Posterizing St. John's Players
Kris Dunn threw down a spectacular dunk, posterizing St. John's Yankuba Sima in the process, during PC's Big East home opener against St. John's.
Dunn finished the game with 26 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block leading the Friars to an 83-65 win. Dunn scored 9 straight points for the Friars in the second half to seal the win.
See the Play Below
3.
Bentil's Tip in Beats URI at The Ryan Center
After Jared Terrell hit a jumper from the free throw line to tie the game at 72, PC's Kris Dunn raced down the floor with seven seconds left but missed the lay up. Ben Bentil was there to clean it up, tipping the ball back in just before the buzzer. Providence beat URI for the 6th straight year 74-72 at the Ryan Center.
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2.
Dunn's Game Winner at Creighton
With the clock winding down in a very ugly game for both sides, Kris Dunn hit a step back jumper that rolled into the basket to give the Friars a 50-48 road win against the Creighton Blue Jays.
At the time, PC improved to 3-1 in the Big East and 15-2 overall.
See the Play Below
1.
Rodney Bullock's Layup Beats USC in NCAA Tourney
Providence trailed 69-68 with three seconds left in the game when Rodney Bullock took an inbounds pass from Drew Edwards under the Trojans basket and layed it in as time expired giving PC a 70-69 win.
The Friars got thier first tournament win in 19 seasons.
See the Play Below
