Providence named Kim English as the 16th head coach of Friars basketball on Thursday.
The school did not announce terms of the deal, however ESPN reported that it’s a six-year contract.
“Kim English is the ideal choice to lead our men’s basketball program, and I am delighted to welcome him to the Providence College community,” said Father Kenneth R. Sicard, the school’s president.
“He is a proven leader with an impressive record of commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes in programs that reflect his work ethic, integrity, and passion for excellence. Those characteristics reflect the ideals of Providence College, and I am excited for the future of Friar men’s basketball under Kim’s leadership.”
English replaces Ed Cooley, who became the new Georgetown coach earlier this week. Providence zeroed in on English almost immediately, according to ESPN.
English has been the coach at George Mason the past two years. The Patriots are 34-29 under him, including 20-13 this season. English’s contract with George Mason reportedly ran through the 2025-26 season.
The 34-year-old English also spent two seasons (2019-21) as an assistant at Tennessee under Rick Barnes, a former Providence head coach who was involved in the process.
“As I was looking for a new head coach, I consulted some of the most knowledgeable people in the game, including (former Big East Conference commissioner) Mike Tranghese and Rick Barnes,” Friars athletic director Steve Napolillo said. “I wanted to find an individual who represented passion and integrity as well as the many other values of Providence College. That led me to Kim.
“Kim is known as one of the best recruiters in the country and he is a rising star in college basketball. He has had success at every level of basketball as a player and a coach. I look forward to our program reaching new heights and having the opportunity to work with him as my teammate for many years to come.”
English played basketball at Missouri and averaged 11.1 points and made 239 3-pointers in 141 games over four seasons (2008-12). He later played in 41 games for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons in 2012-13.
The Friars are replacing Cooley, who departed after 12 seasons to take the Georgetown post. Cooley was 242-153 at Providence and went 21-12 this season, guiding the school to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time during his tenure.
–Field Level Media
