I think what has transpired here is totally unethical and unprofessional. I believe that Georgetown should be investigated for what occurred and punished . There is also a rumor that he has already purchased a new home. With that said, I have also questioned Cooleys’ coaching skills but never questioned his abilities to bring in adequate players that he could work with and help the program.
I started watching PC games in the late 60s at Alumni Hall and have had season tickets since 1992 and have seen a lot of games. I also graduated from PC in 1976 and watched their first final four team. This is nothing like Pitino, everyone knew it was a stepping stone for him. I believe Cooley was contacted prior to the end of the season and that was the start of teams poor play. This was his dream job and I am a realist and know differently. After the Kentucky game he stated he had a lot of thinking to do. I guess it didn’t take too long. He has handled this so poorly, it is pathetic.
I sent an email to the Big East tonight and others should too to investigate this situation . I hope others do too.
The level of disingenuous talk is what I find most annoying. One of my classmates, who is more angry, said he hopes Cooley does not win a Big East game in the next five years.. Personally, I will never be able to see an Ed Cooley team and not wish them failure.
Coach Cooley is a promoter. His pronouncements about the quality of his players, e.g. 'the best in the country', never rang true when one examined the player's gameplay. His effusive complements always had that air of hyperbole not substance. He was/is gregarious and flamboyant, and I believe probably a positive influence on PC basketball.
It is probably appropriate to note that some of PC's success was luck. Bryce Cotton comes to mind. The immense unrecognized talent of that young man made PC basketball in those early Cooley years. Those PC successes were more Cotton than Cooley. Not that the coach and the coaching staff did not contribute, but Bryce Cotton demonstrated and continues to show that he had the talent and the drive to drag the entire program along. Review the PC - North Carolina game and Roy William's comments for support. The irrepressible Kyron Cartwright, a young man who refused to lose is a similar example. There are also counter examples; players with big pre-college resumes, who did not advance the program. Finally, there are a couple of New England players that never got a shot at PC, but proved to be quality players, Marcus Zegarowski and Tyler Kolek come to mind.
I agree with Vin. This deal was done some time ago. It true the duplicity not only hurts, but eliminated the poetic justice of bringing back Rick Pitino. Perhaps PC should call my classmate, Jim Larranaga. He's shown in a very different way that he can be an effective head coach.
Coach Cooley said PC was family. Well, the family is separated and the kids are off to foster care.
It just could have been handled so differently by Cooley so that there wouldn't be such hard feelings that will linger for a long time.
If Cooley wasn't happy, move on. If he needed a new challenge, move on. If his family wan'ted to live elsewhere, move on. Just explain it that way, don't try to pull the wool over on everyone to appease your guilt for everything you have sold over the years.
Providence College will survive, the fans will survive. We will support our team. It will take a bit to get over the subterfuge by the departed coach. Let's find a coach who wants to be here. Support the players who decide to play here. The AMP will rock again and we can move on without the drama.
No, he will not discuss it. He will never come out and tell the real truth about why he really left! He will never come out and tell people that he was having an affair with another woman and Norice, (his wife) found out about it and was threatened by his wife to take the Georgetown or else!
NCAA should have a rule prohibiting a head coach from negotiating with any other team regarding a head coaching job until the NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP has been played.
I think that everyone is missing the facts here. The real reason that Cooley left PC is that he was having an affair with another women. Ed was threated by his wife that if he did not take the job at Georgetown where there just happened to be an opening, she would divorce him and make the divorce very public. Ed put up a good front and lied and deceived everyone, even to his own players! that could be a huge part of the reason why PC played so poorly.
I think what has transpired here is totally unethical and unprofessional. I believe that Georgetown should be investigated for what occurred and punished . There is also a rumor that he has already purchased a new home. With that said, I have also questioned Cooleys’ coaching skills but never questioned his abilities to bring in adequate players that he could work with and help the program.
I started watching PC games in the late 60s at Alumni Hall and have had season tickets since 1992 and have seen a lot of games. I also graduated from PC in 1976 and watched their first final four team. This is nothing like Pitino, everyone knew it was a stepping stone for him. I believe Cooley was contacted prior to the end of the season and that was the start of teams poor play. This was his dream job and I am a realist and know differently. After the Kentucky game he stated he had a lot of thinking to do. I guess it didn’t take too long. He has handled this so poorly, it is pathetic.
I sent an email to the Big East tonight and others should too to investigate this situation . I hope others do too.
You nailed it Kevin. This one hurts.
The level of disingenuous talk is what I find most annoying. One of my classmates, who is more angry, said he hopes Cooley does not win a Big East game in the next five years.. Personally, I will never be able to see an Ed Cooley team and not wish them failure.
Coach Cooley is a promoter. His pronouncements about the quality of his players, e.g. 'the best in the country', never rang true when one examined the player's gameplay. His effusive complements always had that air of hyperbole not substance. He was/is gregarious and flamboyant, and I believe probably a positive influence on PC basketball.
It is probably appropriate to note that some of PC's success was luck. Bryce Cotton comes to mind. The immense unrecognized talent of that young man made PC basketball in those early Cooley years. Those PC successes were more Cotton than Cooley. Not that the coach and the coaching staff did not contribute, but Bryce Cotton demonstrated and continues to show that he had the talent and the drive to drag the entire program along. Review the PC - North Carolina game and Roy William's comments for support. The irrepressible Kyron Cartwright, a young man who refused to lose is a similar example. There are also counter examples; players with big pre-college resumes, who did not advance the program. Finally, there are a couple of New England players that never got a shot at PC, but proved to be quality players, Marcus Zegarowski and Tyler Kolek come to mind.
I agree with Vin. This deal was done some time ago. It true the duplicity not only hurts, but eliminated the poetic justice of bringing back Rick Pitino. Perhaps PC should call my classmate, Jim Larranaga. He's shown in a very different way that he can be an effective head coach.
Coach Cooley said PC was family. Well, the family is separated and the kids are off to foster care.
Totally agree!
my thoughts exactly !
Excellent article Kevin.
It just could have been handled so differently by Cooley so that there wouldn't be such hard feelings that will linger for a long time.
If Cooley wasn't happy, move on. If he needed a new challenge, move on. If his family wan'ted to live elsewhere, move on. Just explain it that way, don't try to pull the wool over on everyone to appease your guilt for everything you have sold over the years.
Providence College will survive, the fans will survive. We will support our team. It will take a bit to get over the subterfuge by the departed coach. Let's find a coach who wants to be here. Support the players who decide to play here. The AMP will rock again and we can move on without the drama.
I think his wife had a bigger role in this than we know about. Of course, he will never discuss it.
No, he will not discuss it. He will never come out and tell the real truth about why he really left! He will never come out and tell people that he was having an affair with another woman and Norice, (his wife) found out about it and was threatened by his wife to take the Georgetown or else!
NCAA should have a rule prohibiting a head coach from negotiating with any other team regarding a head coaching job until the NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP has been played.
I think that everyone is missing the facts here. The real reason that Cooley left PC is that he was having an affair with another women. Ed was threated by his wife that if he did not take the job at Georgetown where there just happened to be an opening, she would divorce him and make the divorce very public. Ed put up a good front and lied and deceived everyone, even to his own players! that could be a huge part of the reason why PC played so poorly.