Michigan Basketball: Updating the Wolverines coaching search

Ed Cooley

The hype train surrounding Juwan Howard has left the station apparently and its next stop is in Rhode Island. Providence head coach Ed Cooley interviewed Monday and there is a lot of speculation out there saying Ed has moved to the top spot.

The good news for Juwan is his interview is scheduled for today so the tide may change in just a few hours. However, we will concentrate on Cooley in this segment.

Cooley began his coaching career all the way back in 1994 as an assistant at U-Mass Dartmouth. He shuffled around assistant jobs until 2006 when he took over for Fairfield University. At Fairfield, he posted an impressive 92-69 record over the five years leading the team.

Ed decided to move on an accept the HC position at Providence University, his current job. With the Friars, Cooley has posted a 162-110 record while sending several of his pupils to the NBA, most notably Kris Dunn who plays for the Chicago Bulls.

Dunn was the No. 2 point guard in the nation coming out of high school where he was recruited by Ed and his staff. This proven recruiting prowess gives Ed the leg up over Juwan in one aspect.

The major problem with hiring Ed, at least for the public, is we don’t know what his buyout would be. As The Detroit News reported, since Providence is a private college they are ‘not required to reveal details of the deal and Cooley’s buyout is not publicly known’.