The Providence Friars reportedly have “zeroed in” on who their next head coach will be.
CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported on Tuesday night that Providence College has “zeroed in on George Mason’s Kim English to be its next head basketball coach.”
Sources: Providence has zeroed in on George Mason's Kim English to be its next head basketball coach.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 22, 2023
Providence lost head coach Ed Cooley in dramatic fashion to the Georgetown Hoyas of the Big East Conference. The move has been called “traitorous” by angered Providence fans who have not taken kindly to their coach leaving for another Big East head coaching job.
So Kim English, if hired, will be tasked with entering a bit of a firestorm in Providence right now. English is a fascinating choice as head coach. He’s coached just two seasons with George Mason in the Atlantic-10 Conference. He coached them to a 14-16 record last season and to a 20-13 record this year. The Patriots failed to make the A-10 finals, losing to Saint Louis in the semifinals.
The Big East has heavied up in the coaching department. In the last two years, Cooley has left for Georgetown, St. John’s hired Rick Pitino, Seton Hall hired Shaheen Holloway, DePaul hired Tony Stubblefield, and Xavier hired Sean Miller. When you consider that, plus the fact the conference also boasts Shaka Smart, Dan Hurley, and Greg McDermott, it’s going to be a difficult conference for anyone to navigate. Let alone a coach with two years of experience and entering a very high-tension situation.
Should Providence hire English, the Big East will sport six Black coaches. English will join a coaching fraternity including Stubblefield, Cooley, Smart, Holloway, and Villanova head coach Eric Neptune.
The CBB world reacted to the news about Providence.
Not all are predicting great things. Jeff Parles predicted, “This is not going to end well for PC.”
This is not going to end well for PC https://t.co/8TAsAvjQHW
— Jeff Parles (@jeffparles) March 22, 2023
Matthew Rowley felt bad for George Mason. “In the seen that it seemed like he was making progress in the rebuild. 8th in his first year and then 5th this season. Still, questions surrounding him but he had things trending up.”
Man, I feel bad for George Mason in the sense that it seemed like he was making progress in the rebuild. 8th his first year and then 5th this season. Still, questions surrounding him but he had things trending up https://t.co/kEXk4kyApc
— Matthew Rowley (@MatchewRolex) March 22, 2023
“Things are happening in Friartown,” said anchor Daniel Coates.
Things are happening in Friartown 👀 @ABC6 https://t.co/0b94CvsFvu
— Daniel Coates (@danielcoates_25) March 22, 2023
One fan was perplexed by the hire. “I don’t know how to grade this hire. Loved the hire of English at George Mason. Is 2 years enough for Providence job? I’m conflicted. Big East is a grind especially with the recent hires.”
I don't know how to grade this hire.
Loved the hire of English at George Mason.
Is 2 years enough for Providence job? I'm conflicted. Big East is a grind especially with the recent hires. https://t.co/yBkDvY7t7F
— SkinsHoops86 (@SkinsHoops86) March 22, 2023
