Cooley becomes second active Big East coach to win award
On Sunday morning, Providence head coach was named the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year. Cooley was previously named Big East Coach of the Year in March. He became the first Providence coach to win either award.
Other finalists included Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Wisconsin’s Greg Gard, and Texas Tech’s Mark Adams. Providence defeated both Wisconsin and Texas Tech in the regular season, and the Friars finished with a 27-6 record, their best since 1974.
Under Cooley, Providence won the Big East regular-season title for the first time in program history. Their 14-3 conference record was their best ever, with 14 wins breaking the record of 12 that was set under Cooley in 2020.
The Friars earned a 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest seed the school was ever received, and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1997.
“It was a memorable, unforgettable moment for me,” said Cooley Sunday evening. “This is the Heisman Trophy award for college coaching.”
“It’s a team award, it’s a staff award,” said Cooley, who was quick to thank the players and coaches around him.
Ed Cooley became the second active Big East coach to win the award, with Villanova’s Jay Wright having received it in 2016 and 2006.