Coaching Carousel Conference Preview: Big East

The Big East is the only power conference without a coach on the hot seat heading into this season. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to talk about, though. The conference had its fair share of headline worthy stories this spring. Let’s dive into the Big East coaching carousel preview.

Newcomers

Ed Cooley (Georgetown)

Ed Cooley is new to Georgetown, but not the Big East. He made one of the biggest moves of the off-season, leaving Providence for an intra-conference rival. Cooley replaces Georgetown legend (on court only) Patrick Ewing. Ewing went 13-50 (2-37 BE) over the last two seasons, so it won’t take much to move the needle in the right direction. Cooley’s move is so fascinating because of his ties to the Providence community. It’s not often the hometown hero turns his back on the town he grew up in. Cooley’s admiration for long-time Hoyas head coach John Thompson, Jr. is thought to be the driving force behind the move, though Providence fans have reason to believe otherwise. Regardless of the details, it sets up an unbelievable season-long storyline to keep up with, culminating in Cooley’s eventual return to Providence. It’s very likely the most anticipated game of the season and we don’t even have the date yet. Everything Georgetown does on and off the court will be under the microscope this year.

Kim English (Providence)

Speaking of Providence, they had to replace their long-time head coach and wasted no time doing so. It took athletic director Steve Napolillo just three days to hire Kim English away from George Mason. The 34-year-old has sprinted up the coaching ladder, landing his second head job in the last three years. English started as an assistant at Tulsa in 2015. Since then, he’s had two-year stints at Colorado, Tennessee and most recently George Mason. In two seasons with the Patriots, English only managed a 34-29 record, but Napolillo is banking on his potential more than anything else. English is widely regarded as a media darling who has a knack for connecting with people. He’s excellent on the recruiting trail and can fundraise with the best of them. Providence hopes they’ve landed their coach for the next decade, though his history of jumping around is cause for concern.

Rick Pitino (St. John’s)

Rick Pitino was the crown jewel of available coaches this spring. It was no secret the Hall of Famer was ready to move on from Iona after three seasons – it was only a matter of where he would end up. Pitino ultimately landed right where he belonged – at St. John’s. The New York, N.Y. native will return to Madison Square Garden as the home team’s coach for the first time since 1989. Pitino wasted no time doing what he does best – fundraising and recruiting. The Johnnies brought in an entirely new roster and retained its best player in Joel Soriano. They’ve galvanized a fanbase desperate for relevance in the college hoops landscape and tapped into the bounties of resources NYC has to offer. Pitino only has a handful of years left on the sidelines, but you won’t see anyone outwork him while he’s still around.

Potential Movers

Dan Hurley (Connecticut)

Dan Hurley just led UConn to the national championship. Things are great in Storrs! He just signed an extension making him the highest paid coach in school history and he’s landing top-ranked recruits left and right. The only opportunity that could take Hurley away is the NBA. Hurley is not shy about his future aspirations, but admits he’s not ready just yet. When will he be ready? Only he knows, but if the right team and right number comes calling, it’ll be hard for him to say no.

Greg McDermott (Creighton)

Greg McDermott has been wildly successful at Creighton. Just last year he led the Bluejays to their first Elite 8 appearance since 1941 and has 300 wins at the school. So why would he make the potential movers list? Throughout the season, multiple sources indicated that McDermott’s relationships with Creighton athletic director Marcus Blossom and President Daniel Hendrickson are on shaky ground. In addition, McDermott was briefly linked to the Notre Dame job, potentially looking for a fresh start. Making the Elite 8 and taking a summer to cool off may have changed things in Omaha, but it’s a situation to monitor in a year where plenty of big jobs should be available.

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