Inspin > NCAAB > Providence scores coup in getting Drake coach

Providence scores coup in getting Drake coach

Written by: Brainiac

After getting turned down twice by other candidates, Providence has hired Drake’s Keno Davs as its new basketball coach.

Davis, 36, won the Associated Press' National Coach of the Year award at the Final Four last week after leading Drake to a 28-5 record in his first season as head coach.

The Bulldogs were picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Missouri Valley Conference but blossomed into the most surprising team in the nation on the way to a conference title with a 15-3 record. At one point, Drake won 21 games in a row.

Drake advanced to the NCAA's for the first time since 1971. The Bulldogs lost to Western Kentucky in the first round on a last-second 3-point shot in overtime.

Davis was previously an assistant coach at Drake from 2003–2007, Southeast Missouri State 1997–2003, Southern Indiana 1995–1997, as well as an undergraduate assistant coach at Iowa from 1991–1995.

Davis replaces Tim Welsh, who was fired last month after taking Providence to two NCAA tournament appearances in 10 seasons. Providence finished with losing records in three of the last four seasons. The Friars went 6-12 in the Big East and 15-16 overall this season.

This is a nice hire by Providence. The school originally wanted George Mason’s Jim Larranaga (a PC alum) and UMass’ Travis Ford but was turned down by both. You could argue Davis is a hotter national candidate than either of those two.

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