By ROB ROSE
Providence College head coach Ed Cooley on Friday added fuel to the rumors that he might make a move to Big East rival Georgetown.
When Cooley met the media after his team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the first round by Kentucky, the coach was asked about the potential move within the conference.
“It’s a lot of decision I need to make, it’s a lot of thinking I’m going to do,” Cooley said. “I want to make sure I’m there for our players… There’s a lot of reflecting I need to do and I will definitely let you know what I am going to do when this is all over.”
Cooley, who reportedly makes close to $4 million annually at Providence, added there was no timeline for when he would make a decision about his future. Georgetown reportedly also has interest in Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry, whose team won its first round game vs. Texas A&M. Shrewsberry has also been linked to the Notre Dame opening and is also expected to be offered a raise and extension at Penn State.
Cooley was born in Providence and described the school as his dream job during his introductory press conference in 2011. The Friars reached the NCAA Tournament seven times during his 12 seasons, and won a Big East regular-season crown last season.
If Georgetown can land Cooley he might not be the only new head coach in the Big East next season.
St. John’s is targeting Iona head coach Rick Pitino, but nothing is official yet. Like Cooley did after he left Fairfield in 2011, Pitino would join a Big East school after being named MAAC Coach of the Year.
The Gaels were eliminated by UConn in the NCAA Tournament first round on Friday. Postgame Pitino said he wasn’t sure if it was his last game at Iona.
“I really don’t have an answer to it,” Pitino said. “I have no idea if it is or isn’t. I focused everything on this game, trying to beat Connecticut.”
The Big East next season could have a Murderer’s Row of coaches including Pitino, Cooley, Creighton’s Greg McDermott, Xavier’s Sean Miller, Marquette’s Shaka Smart, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Seton Hall’s Shaheen Holloway and Butler’s Thad Matta, among others.
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