Providence Hires Kim English To Replace Ed Cooley

Less than a week after Ed Cooley shocked the college basketball world by leaving Providence after 12 seasons to become the next head coach at Georgetown, the Friars have officially named his replacement.

Providence has hired former George Mason head coach Kim English to take over Cooley's post, the school announced Thursday.

English, who starred at Missouri as a player and appeared in 41 games for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA, is just 34 years old.

English got his head coaching start at George Mason, where he spent the past two seasons. The Baltimore native led the Patriots to a 20-13 record this season, the program's first 20-win campaign since 2016-17.

English has long been regarded as a star in the coaching ranks. He got his start as an assistant for former Missouri coach Frank Haith at Tulsa. He then spent stints on Tad Boyle's Colorado staff and working under Rick Barnes at Tennessee.

English will be tasked with continuing the success Providence has experienced under Cooley. The Friars have made seven of the past nine NCAA Tournaments and won the Big East regular-season title in 2021-22.