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BIG EAST MEDIA DAY: Georgetown’s Ed Cooley Says Change is ‘OK’ (UPDATED)

Coaches’ poll places Georgetown in top 8

By Whipple
/ new
Big East Basketball Media Day Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images

Ed Cooley is fielding tons of questions at BIG EAST Media Day about his March defection from the Providence Friars to your Georgetown Hoyas and the focal point of his answer is “Change.” In his interviews, Cooley underscores that both he and Georgetown needed “change” and this “change” can do wonders to reinvigorate a coaching staff, a fan base, a school, and maybe even a whole city.

One piece of news that speaks volumes of the respect his peers have for Cooley to effect this “change” is that—after GU going 2-38 in conference play over the past two years—Cooley’s Hoyas were picked 8th in the BIG EAST Coaches’ Poll, ahead of DePaul, Butler, and Seton Hall.

Cooley spoke about the Georgetown rebuild and the hopeful symbiosis of growing with the fans (encouragin the purchase of season tickets). He also reiterated his love for his hometown of Providence and the program he built there, rooting for the best with new coach Kim English. And with the BIG EAST expected to be as competitive as it will be, Cooley admitted that it really will be a tough year to make the “change” he needs.

Cooley talks with John Fanta and the panel (at about 2 hours and 40 minutes in) and addresses important topics like Dunkin Donuts coffee, the long days of campaign lifestyle, and Supreme Cook’s deep voice. Jayden Epps is interviewed right after and conveys his great relationship with coach and how he followed Cooley to Georgetown.

UPDATE 2PM:

Ed Cooley ‘not apologizing’ for leaving Providence for Georgetown | Field Level Media

New Georgetown head basketball coach Ed Cooley was an institution at Providence. When he left in March for a job within the Big East conference, questions and criticism were expected.

But Cooley said Tuesday at Big East media days he won’t apologize for making the move.

“Was it hard to leave? 1,000 percent,” Cooley, 54, said.

“But Georgetown is change. And change is healthy. I understand the bitterness that comes with that. I promise you I’m excited to go back there this year. But I’m not apologizing for taking care of my life. End of discussion.”

UConn’s Dan Hurley says Rick Pitino has brought ‘energy’ to St. John’s and is ‘great for the Big East’ | NJ.com (Zagoria)

Georgetown coach Ed Cooley wasn’t holding back in his praise of Pitino, who has led five programs to the NCAA Tournament and three to the Final Four, either.

“I think Rick Pitino is probably the greatest college coach in the history of the sport,” Cooley said. “The greatest in the history of the sport.”

Both Pitino and Cooley, meantime, said they hope to restore the St. John’s-Georgetown rivalry to its past glory.

“This place will be humming pretty soon,” Cooley said of the matchup. “Can’t you hear it? You can hear it right now. Every seat in here will be taken.”

Pitino said by his second season he expects it to be a marquee game.

“I know Ed’s going to build that into a power, there’s not a doubt in my mind,” Pitino said of Georgetown. “And there’s not a doubt in my mind St. John’s is going to be a power. How soon we can do that, I don’t know. But it may not happen this year, Georgetown-St. John’s [as a marquee game], but I guarantee it’ll happen the following year.”

UPDATE 10/25:

Big East media day: Rick Pitino’s vision, Ed Cooley’s big move, UConn disrespected? | Fox Sports (Fanta)

“I’ll always love Providence College. It was really, really hard to leave. But change was in the air.”

Among a sea of storylines inside The Garden, there was also the dynamic of Georgetown and Providence with 54-year-old Ed Cooley leaving the Friars for the Hoyas during the offseason in the conference’s most stunning coaching move in league history.

On Tuesday morning, Cooley and new Providence head coach Kim English could be seen catching up and talking casually as Big East commissioner Val Ackerman delivered opening remarks. English has joked before that he’s the only one left in Cooley’s hometown that still likes him, as tension will always be present between the ex-Friars coach and the Providence community.

“I can feel the anger and I get it,” Cooley said of the Friar community and fan base. “But in our world, change is OK. I don’t think we should be villainized or victimized. Change is OK. But I’ll always be from the state of Rhode Island. I’ll always be a kid from Providence, and I’ll always cheer for Providence College.

Big East will begin talks with FOX this winter on media rights extension: ‘We’re optimistic we’ll stay in business’ | NJ (Zagoria)

“I know Ed’s going to build that into a power, there’s not a doubt in my mind,” Pitino said Tuesday. “And there’s not a doubt in my mind St. John’s is going to be a power. How soon we can do that, I don’t know. But it may not happen this year, Georgetown-St. John’s [as a marquee game], but I guarantee it’ll happen the following year.”

Ackerman said in March it’s important for the league for the Hoyas to be relevant.

“We need Georgetown on a high perch,” she said in a one-on-one interview at Pitino’s press conference at Madison Square Garden. “They’re one of the biggest brands, if not the biggest brand in the Big East, [they] have a proud history. They’re very determined to restore past glory and they clearly think that Coach Cooley can get them to where they want to go so I think from that standpoint it’s very exciting with great coaches in the Big East but the bar just got raised.”

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