PROVIDENCE, R.I. _ Providence College basketball fans are thrilled that homegrown Ed Cooley is coaching the Friars, but when he was exploring his options last May, one very familiar name took notice.
In an interview on CBS Sports Network's One2One that airs Friday night, Rick Pitino told Lesley Visser that a return to Providence entered his mind when Cooley spoke with the University of Michigan. The Wolverines ended up hiring Juwan Howard, but only after Cooley removed his name from the job search and Providence signed him to a lucrative contract extension.
"The only thing that I'll say is Ed Cooley was rumored to go to Michigan," Pitino said. "The only thing that got my juices flowing and excited was if he takes the Michigan job I could possibly go back to Providence College."
Pitino was fired in October 2017 after a wildly successful 17-year run at Louisville after his program was linked to the FBI's investigation of illegal payments to recruits. He landed in the European professional ranks where he won a championship in 2019 in his first season with Greek club Panathinaikos. Pitino, 66, will not return for a second season but has expressed an interest in coaching.
Pitino coached at Providence from 1985 to 1987, leading the Friars on an improbable run to the 1987 Final Four. He left after that season to become head coach of the New York Knicks.
"One of my biggest regrets in basketball was not spending more time at Providence College because I loved the school so much," Pitino said.
