Hallelujah!! Now let’s play, Keno

Today Providence College announced Keno Davis as the 14th coach in Friars’ history. To say we are excited about this hire would be an understatement. Davis meets just about every criteria we wanted in the next coach — defensive-minded, smart, adaptable, energetic, charismatic and young. There are minor questions (can he or his staff recruit; is one year as a head coach enough time at the helm), none of which worry us with a man who was recently named the AP National Coach of the Year and is the definition of a basketball lifer. Today is a day for PC fans to celebrate — there is joy, hope and optimism again in Friartown. The cloud has been lifted.

Déjà vu all over again

This is what’s known in the corporate world as a public relations nightmare.

Those who have followed the… wait, shit, this isn’t Jim Larranaga again. We got rejected by another mid-major coach? Wow, talk about a bad couple of weeks for Providence hoops. Is there a panic button somewhere around here to press?

UMass head man Travis Ford (circled above) spurned the opportunity to take over Providence’s program, and it leaves PC still searching for a coach a month after Tim Welsh was canned.

PC Coaching Search: Circle The Wagons

Now that we’ve had a few days to digest the Larranaga decision, and the landscape has changed for other coaching openings, it’s time to reassess where Providence stands in its coaching search. Bob Driscoll has a second chance to investigate some coaches that should have been in the mix from the start, as well as pursue a few interesting new names that have recently surfaced. As always, there are candidates we hope Driscoll avoids like the plague as well. After the jump, we rank and break down the 10 most likely choices to be the Friars next head coach.

Larranaga says no thanks, PC reaches critical juncture

This is what’s known in the corporate world as a public relations nightmare.

Those who have followed the Jim Larranaga situation and know his story understand that, at 58 years old, he’s in a comfortable situation at George Mason that he built from scratch. Why embark on a drastic career change when you’re only a few years away from retirement? His heart and home is in northern Virginia, and that’s all the reason he needs to stay.

But facts are facts: Providence just got rejected by a mid-major coach who also happens to be an alumnus of the school.

The Godfather: Why PC Is Perfect For Anthony Grant

See also, “The Godfather: Why Anthony Grant is Perfect for PC”

So Anthony Grant may be perfect for PC, but since it takes two to tango, Bob Driscoll would have to convince Grant that PC is the right fit for him. So, Bob, get out your plaid jacket, slick back your hair, and make liked a used car salesman while you give the following sales pitch…

The Godfather: Why Anthony Grant Is Perfect For PC

See also, “The Godfather: Why PC is Perfect for Anthony Grant”

While we realize Grant is unlikely to be the next coach at Providence for numerous reasons, we will still make the case why the union makes sense for both sides. First up is what should make Grant appealing to Bob Driscoll.

PC Coaching Search: Goodfellas

[Part 3 of a 3-part series]

Now that an exhilarating weekend of March Madness is behind us, we can return to our depressing lives as Friar fans. Then again, we guess things aren’t quite so depressing — after all, we’re about to turn the page on a new era in Friar hoops.

But who will be the face of that new era? We’ve already discussed those who won’t be that face — “The Untouchables” and “The Odd Men Out” — but now we move to a group that just might contain PC’s next head man. Read on to find out more.

PC Coaching Search: The Odd Men Out

[Part 2 of a 3-part series]

Over the last decade, Providence has made a concerted effort to invest in athletics to compete in the Big East. With the increase in coaches’ salaries, upgrades in on-campus facilities and renovations to the Dunk, PC is as enticing a job as it has ever been in our lifetimes.

That said, after three years of irrelevancy, and with a senior-laden roster returning next season, an imprudent hire could set PC back years, and relegate the Friars to perennial cellar-dwellers in the Big East (or worse, as the fellow in the picture could attest to). The following candidates will be bandied about amongst fans, and may even interview to fill the vacancy. But, in his role as judge, Bob Driscoll should drop his gavel and dismiss them from consideration.

PC Coaching Search: The Untouchables

[Part 1 of a 3-part series]

We’ve said before on this site that we hate the characterization of Friar fans as starry-eyed dreamers who expect the program to regularly compete with the UConns and Louisvilles of the world. The vast majority of Friar fans have a firm grip on reality, and we like to think that we’re a part of that group.

Still, it doesn’t hurt to get a reality check every once in a while. So as we begin our examination of coaching candidates for PC, we’ll start with “The Untouchables,” those whose arrival as Providence coach can be filed under “P” for “pipe dream.” Without further ado, here’s a list of men who aren’t walking through that door…

Tim Welsh is currently unemployed

Wow, that was quick.

We’ll be bombarding you with PC hoops posts in the next few days: a discussion of good and bad candidates for the job, and our own endorsement for the position. Lots to talk about, so be sure to check back often.

In the meantime, to commemorate this historic day, we figured we’d have one last go at the irrational pro-Welsh brigade in the media. You know what that means… it’s time for another FJM-style post! Today’s subject: Sean McDonough and Bill Raftery during Timmy’s swan song on Wednesday.