Providence’s men’s basketball program is expected to fire coach Kim English immediately after an 85-72 quarterfinal loss to No. 13 St. John’s in the Big East Tournament, capping a three-year tenure with zero NCAA Tournament appearances and a 48-52 record—a stark fall from the consistent March Madness runs under Ed Cooley.
NEW YORK — The final buzzer sounded on Kim English’s time at Providence on Thursday, though the official firing may come in the days ahead. The Friars’ 85-72 loss to No. 13 St. John’s in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden was not just a defeat—it was the last chapter in a story that began with promise but spiraled into mediocrity.
English, 37, is expected to be dismissed after three seasons with a 48-52 overall record and no NCAA Tournament bids. That record stands in painful contrast to his predecessor, Ed Cooley, who led Providence to seven March Madness appearances in 12 years, including a Sweet 16 run in 2022 before an acrimonious departure for Georgetown.
The loss to St. John’s was a microcosm of English’s tenure: a team that showed flashes—like a massive comeback against Butler in the first round—but was ultimately outclassed by a rival that exploited their weaknesses. The Red Storm outrebounded Providence 51-30 and outscored the bench 30-4, highlighting a lack of depth that plagued the Friars all season.
Without injured second-leading scorer Jason Edwards (right foot), Providence’s offensive limitations were laid bare. Yet the stubbornness remained. “I’m not a very emotional person. I don’t want anyone’s sympathy,” English said after the game, standing by his program’s culture even as the ax fell.
His players, however, rallied to his defense. “He’s the best coach I ever had,” said Big East scoring champion Jaylin Sellers, whose 21 points couldn’t stem the tide. The disconnect between player loyalty and results underscores the difficult job Providence’s administration faces: they must find a coach who can both develop talent and win in the nation’s toughest basketball conference.
The season’s nadir came on Valentine’s Day in Providence, when a brawl erupted after Duncan Powell’s clothesline foul on former Friar Bryce Hopkins—now St. John’s star. The incident, which led to Powell’s three-game suspension, symbolized the frustration boiling over. “It’s a hard foul,” English said at the time. “I don’t think it was that bad.” But the optics were terrible, feeding a narrative of a team losing control.
Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, whose St. John’s team dominated Providence, offered a sympathetic take: “He’s a very good basketball coach. He gets his teams to play hard.” But Pitino also noted a cruel truth of the sport: “They lost so many close games the beginning of the year that it went the other way for them.”
Indeed, English’s first season (2023-24) showed promise—a 21-14 record, a No. 23 AP ranking, and a Big East semifinal appearance. But the loss of Hopkins to an ACL tear in January proved catastrophic. Without their star, the Friars couldn’t get over the hump. The following season (2024-25) plummeted to 12-20, tying the program’s worst loss record—a mark English himself called “pitiful, embarrassing.”
This season (2025-26) was a fragile rebuild. A young team, as English admitted, started 2-9 in Big East play. A run to the conference tournament semifinals last year raised hopes, but the inability to beat ranked teams (0-10 since a 3-0 start in his first year) told the real story.
Now Providence must restart. The athletic director will likely target a coach with a proven track record in the Big East, someone who can immediately rebound from the Cooley era’s decline. Names like Jay Wright (though retired) or a rising assistant will surface, but the pressure will be immense: restore a proud program to relevance or face the same fate.
For English, the road ahead is uncertain. His NBA playing background and assistant stops at Missouri and George Mason show he has the pedigree, but the college game’s grind in the Big East proved too much. As he said, “I’m figuring it out.” Unfortunately for him, Providence ran out of time.
The Friars’ faithful will debate what went wrong: player development? Recruiting? Game management? But the bottom line is blunt: three years, zero NCAA Tours, and a growing gap between expectation and reality. In a conference with “giants, college basketball royalty,” as English put it, Providence became the team left behind.
Expect an official announcement within 48 hours. The next hire will define whether this was just a misstep or the start of a prolonged drought.
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