Ed Cooley leaving Providence to be the head coach at Georgetown
After twelve seasons at Providence, Ed Cooley is leaving to become the new head coach at Georgetown. The intra-conference drama has been playing out rather publicly over the past couple weeks, with Cooley reportedly struggling over the decision to leave his hometown program for the better-funded and more historic Hoyas’ program.
“This is an exciting moment for Georgetown men’s basketball as we welcome Ed Cooley and his family to the Hilltop,” AD Lee Reed said in the release. “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.”
Cooley is a Providence-native who was hired to run the Friars program in 2011 after five seasons as the head coach a Fairfield. Since then, Cooley has taken PC to seven NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen last year (2022) after winning the first Big East regular season title in program history.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at Georgetown University,” said Cooley. “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.”
With an overall record of 334-222 as a head coach (242-153 at Providence), Cooley is the most experienced hire the Georgetown program has ever made. Cooley will be 54 years old at the start of the 2023-24 season and has plenty of coaching years ahead of him, so he is someone that could be at Georgetown for awhile if he is able to find success.
The Hoyas have been to the NCAA Tournament just once in the last eight years, thanks to a surprise run to a Big East Tournament title in 2021 as the 8-seed. In the two years since, Patrick Ewing‘s bunch went just 13-50 (2-37) and the school parted ways with the Hoya legend earlier this month.
credit to Georgetown Athletics for the image
