Monday, March 17, 2008

The Search is on at PC

by: Frank Carpano

• The search is on for a new Providence College Basketball Coach. PC Athletic Director said Sunday that he hopes to have the process completed prior to the Final 4. He said he has a short list of candidates he’d like to interview. There will not be a search committee, Driscoll said that he will handle the search with the final decision belonging to Providence College President Brian Shanley.

• Driscoll said that fans have been emailing him with the name of the person they would like PC to hire. The name most frequently mentioned? Bob Knight.

• I can’t imagine that Knight would be interested. But if he was, I can’t imagine that considering his past, that PC would seriously consider him.

• I’m told that Knight, when asked on ESPN about the Providence job, he said: “No comment”.

• Driscoll also said that he has spoken with all of Welsh’s players. He said they are disappointed by Welsh’s departure, but they plan to stay at Providence College.

• The Providence Journal’s Kevin McNamara reported today that PC recruit Bilal Dixon, a 6-8 forward from New Jersey, still plans to attend Providence College.

• Tim Welsh showed a lot of class by showing up for the final edition of the PC Coaches’ Show on NBC 10. That show was taped barely 24 hours after Tim learned that he would not be returning to coach the Friars.

• Welsh indicated that he’d like to begin his job search immediately. 10 years ago, Welsh was at the Final 4 in San Antonio when he got the call that he would be the next coach of the Friars. The Final 4 will be held once again in San Antonio in 3 weeks. Here’s hoping that Welsh has similar luck.