Georgetown welcomes Providence’s Ed Cooley as new basketball head coach

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WLNE) — Georgetown on Wednesday welcomed Ed Cooley as its new men’s basketball head coach.

“We are not going to win a little. We’re going to win a lot,” Cooley said at his introductory news conference.

Cooley said he wanted current and former players to envision cutting down nets and watching “One Shining Moment” with the nets hanging around their necks.

“People are gonna want to wear this G more than they ever have in their lives,” he said.

Georgetown announced his hire Monday, after Providence issued a news release saying that Cooley had resigned.

“Coach Cooley is a mentor to young men, and a consistent winner with an impressive body of work,” said Georgetown athletic director Lee Reed Monday. “His previous experience gives him an understanding of our Jesuit values and I am confident that he is the coach to return our program to prominence within the Big East and nationally.”

“Accepting this opportunity with Georgetown is not a decision I took lightly,” Cooley said.

Cooley, who’s been with Providence for 12 seasons, leaves the Friars with a 242-153 record after 12 years and seven March Madness appearances with a total of three wins in the tournament.

The 53-year-old is taking over Patrick Ewing, who was fired as coach of the Hoyas on March 9 after six seasons at the school.

In Providence, there are reports that George Mason head coach Kim English will be the next leader in Friartown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.