Could Ed Cooley Be Headed To Providence?

Try as they might, the Big East just can't get rid of Boston College. Former BC assistant and current Fairfield coach Ed Cooley may be in line for the vacant Providence men's basketball head coaching gig:

"PC has asked for and received permission from Fairfield University to speak with Cooley. The Stags' fifth-year coach was traveling to an NIT game in Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday and could not be reached for comment. Minimal contact has been made between the PC and Cooley camps as of Sunday night and nothing should progress before the Stags end their NIT run, which begins with a game at Colorado State Tuesday night."

Cooley currently appears to be the only candidate that Providence is focusing on. Cooley, a Providence native, is in his fifth season at Fairfield and has compiled a record of 91-68 (60-33 MAAC). The Stags played in last year's CIT and made this year's NIT earning the Metro Atlantic's auto-bid by virtue of winning the regular season with a 15-3 record.

Fairfield (24-7, 15-3 MAAC) plays at Colorado State in a 3 vs. 6 NIT matchup tonight at 9PM on ESPN3.com.

Prior to landing the head job at Fairfield, Cooley spent nine seasons on the Heights as an assistant coach / recruiting coordinator under Skinner. Cooley was also one of the finalists to replace Al Skinner last offseason. If Cooley takes the Friars opening, it will certainly add a little something extra to the BC-Providence rivalry on the hardwood.

HT: GCip24