Ed Cooley’s Return to Providence Sets Up Unprecedented Event in Big East History

By John Fanta, College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter

**Providence, Rhode Island** – On a mid-winter Saturday afternoon in Northeast Rhode Island, the Providence Friars were preparing to take on DePaul in a Saturday Big East clash. While the national audience focused on other ranked matchups and conference rivalries, Providence locals knew that this game mattered. The Friars, ranked 11th in the country, were chasing their first Big East regular-season championship in program history.

But what unfolded that evening was nothing short of remarkable. Two hours before tip-off, over 2,000 undergraduate Providence College students filled the seats at Amica Mutual Pavilion, eagerly awaiting the game. And then, the head coach of the Friars emerged: **Ed Cooley**. At 52, Cooley had led the team to a historic 20-2 start, the best since the 1970s. As a Providence native, Cooley’s return resonated deeply. The Friars were the pro team in the city, and Cooley was one of their own.

The atmosphere was electric. DePaul, despite a 3-9 Big East record, didn’t matter. The 12,513 fans present were there to witness history. Providence eventually clinched the regular-season championship and made its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1997. Cooley’s impact extended beyond the court: he won the Naismith Coach of the Year Award, became the first Providence head coach named Big East Coach of the Year, and guided the team to 27 victories—a program record¹.

Now, as Cooley returns to Providence with his Georgetown Hoyas, emotions run high. The AMP awaits another unprecedented scene, and fans will celebrate a coach who left an indelible mark on Friars basketball. It’s more than a game; it’s a reunion of hearts and hoops.