In 1973 two local kids put a small, regional, catholic school on the map. Not only did Marvin Barnes and Ernie DiGregorio lead Providence college to the final four, they established the school as a viable national force. Over the next three decades, Providence built upon that foundation, in the process producing an astonishing number of NBA players and becoming a farm for elite coaching talent like Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes, and Pete Gillen. Although Providence was as good of a program as almost any in the country, there were, and continue to be, structural disadvantages that make the Providence's margin for error slim. As hard as it is for me to say, Providence is not UNC, Duke, or even UCONN; they are a program that is on the level of Xavier, Marquette, or Villanova. What these programs have shown, however, is that with the right coach anything is possible. Unfortunately for Providence, that coach has been missing for over a decade. As fast as the program shot off in the 70s, it had fallen off the map by the end of this season. Were the Friars going down the same path as Iona, Canasius, or Loyola Marymount? These were the questions being asked in all corners of Friartown.
Then came a glimmer of hope. It came in the form of a hometown hero. A man who valued integrity about anything else. Ed Cooley was the complete package. He would win and he would be at Providence for a long time.
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Legend
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