Ed Cooley opens the 2024-25 season in his second season as the head coach of the Georgetown University men’s basketball program.
Following his inaugural season on the Hilltop, Cooley owns a 343-245 record over 18 seasons.
Cooley arrived on the Hilltop ahead of the 2023-24 season after spending the previous 12 seasons at Providence College. At PC, Cooley posted a 242-153 record, which included seven trips to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2022, a BIG EAST regular season title (2022) and a BIG EAST Tournament title (2014). In 2022, Cooley was the recipient of the Naismith Coach of the Year Award, named the Sporting News Coach of the Year, the BIG EAST Coach of the Year, the NABC District 5 Coach of the Year and the USBWA District 1 Coach of the Year.
Cooley was responsible for turning around the Friar program. Prior to his arrival in 2011, Providence had finished under .500 in six of the 10 previous seasons and made just one trip to the NCAA Tournament (2004) in that 10-year span. Following Cooley’s arrival, he led the Friars to nine postseason tournament berths, including seven straight from 2013-19. In 2022, he guided the team to the NCAA Sweet 16 and the program's first BIG EAST regular season title. In 2014, he led the team to the BIG EAST Tournament title.
During his time at Providence, Cooley has coached five All-Americans. He also has had players earn two BIG EAST Player of Year honors, two BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year accolades, three BIG EAST Most Improved Player awards, one BIG EAST Tournament MVP, five BIG EAST All-Tournament Team accolades, two BIG EAST All-Rookie Team awards, one BIG EAST Sportsmanship honor and 12 All-BIG EAST honors.
Prior to his time at Providence, Cooley guided Fairfield University to a school-record 25 wins and a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season title in 2010-11. He was named the 2011 MAAC Coach of the Year and the 2011 United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) District I Coach of the Year honors as his squad advanced to the second round of the NIT.
In five seasons at Fairfield, Cooley's teams posted a 92-69 mark, including a 58-32 record in MAAC action. In 2010 Cooley was the first recipient of the Ben Jobe Award, presented annually to the top minority men's basketball coach in the nation.
Prior to taking the Fairfield position, Cooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach for Al Skinner (Rhode Island - 1996-97; Boston College - 1997-2006). During his time with BC, the Eagles advanced to five NCAA Tournaments and one NIT, secured the 2001 BIG EAST Tournament title and three BIG EAST regular season titles (2001, 2003 and 2005).
A 1994 graduate of Stonehill College, he was a three-time captain for the basketball team and was inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. Cooley began his coaching career at UMass-Dartmouth. He helped lead UMass-Dartmouth to a 25-4 mark and a No. 3 national ranking (1994-95). He returned to his alma mater to serve as an assistant coach for one season (1995-96).
Cooley is a native of Providence, Rhode Island and attended Central High School, earning two Rhode Island High School Player of the Year honors. He did a postgraduate year at New Hampton Prep before attending Stonehill. He and his wife Nurys have a daughter Olivia, who is a graduate of Georgetown University, and a son Isaiah.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT COACH COOLEY
“We are deeply honored that Coach Cooley will be joining our community as the next leader of our Men’s basketball program. Ed is a proven leader and an experienced coach, whose values and knowledge of the game will lead our program into this new chapter. His commitment to excellence on and off the court will bring out the best of our basketball program and will give each member of our team the experiences and support they need to thrive. We look forward to welcoming Ed and his family into this new role in our community,”
- Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia.
“This is an exciting moment for Georgetown men’s basketball as we welcome Ed Cooley and his family to the Hilltop. Coach Cooley is a mentor to young men, and a consistent winner with an impressive body of work. 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."
- Francis X. Rienzo Director of Athletics Lee Reed
ON THE RECORD WITH COACH COOLEY
"I am excited for the opportunity to lead the men's basketball program at Georgetown University. President DeGioia and Athletics Director Lee Reed are united in a strong vision, including in their beliefs, for Georgetown’s program, its players and the team’s success. I plan on hitting the ground running, getting to work on the court and cultivating relationships in and around the District. Accepting this opportunity with Georgetown is not a decision I took lightly, and was made in careful consideration with my wife and family. I was born and raised in the Providence College basketball program and am grateful to the college, its President Kenneth Sicard and its Athletic Director, Steve Napolillo, from whom I could not have received better support. I am blessed to have worked in this extraordinary conference with great players, coaches, athletic directors, and fans, and I look forward to my new opportunity.”
- Head Coach Ed Cooley
| COOLEY COACHING FILE: HEAD COACH |
| Season |
Institution |
Regular Season Record (Conf.) |
Conf. Tournament Record / Round |
Postseason Record / Round |
| 2006-07 |
Fairfield |
13-19 (10-8 MAAC) |
0-1 / MAAC Quarterfinals |
N/A |
| 2007-08 |
Fairfield |
14-16 (11-7 MAAC) |
0-1 / MAAC Quarterfinals |
N/A |
| 2008-09 |
Fairfield |
17-15 (9-9 MAAC) |
1-1 / MAAC Semifinals |
N/A |
| 2009-10 |
Fairfield |
23-11 (13-5 MAAC) |
2-1 / MAAC Finals |
1-1 / CIT^ |
| 2010-11 |
Fairfield |
25-8 (15-3 MAAC) |
1-1 / MAAC Semifinals |
1-1 / NIT Second Round |
| 2011-12 |
Providence |
15-17 (4-14 BE) |
0-1 / BET First Round |
N/A |
| 2012-13 |
Providence |
19-15 (9-9 BE) |
0-1 / BET First Round |
2-1 / NIT Quarterfinals |
| 2013-14 |
Providence |
23-12 (10-8 BE) |
3-0 / BET Champions |
0-1 / NCAA First Round |
| 2014-15 |
Providence |
22-12 (11-7 BE) |
1-1 / BET Semifinals |
0-1 / NCAA First Round |
| 2015-16 |
Providence |
24-11 (10-8 BE) |
1-1 / BET Semifinals |
1-1 / NCAA Second Round |
| 2016-17 |
Providence |
20-13 (10-8 BE) |
0-1 / BET Quarterfinals |
0-1 / NCAA First Round |
| 2017-18 |
Providence |
21-14 (10-8 BE) |
2-1 / BET Finals |
0-1 / NCAA First Round |
| 2018-19 |
Providence |
18-16 (7-11 BE) |
1-1 / BET Quarterfinals |
0-1 / NIT First Round |
| 2019-20 |
Providence |
19-12 (12-6 BE) |
Canceled for COVID-19 |
Canceled for COVID-19 |
| 2020-21 |
Providence |
13-13 (9-10 BE) |
0-1 / BET First Round |
N/A |
| 2021-22 |
Providence |
27-6 (14-3 BE) |
1-1 / BET Semifinals |
2-1 / NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2022-23 |
Providence |
21-12 (13-7 BE) |
0-1 / BET Quarterfinals |
0-1 / NCAA First Round |
| 2023-24 |
Georgetown |
9-23 (2-18 BE) |
0-1 / BET First Round |
|
| 18 Seasons |
|
343-245 Overall
121-117 BE
58-32 MAAC |
13-16 / One Championship |
7-11 Overall
3-7 NCAA
3-3 NIT
1-1 CIT |
