Providence signs Kim English to six-year contract extension
Providence signed head coach Kim English to a six-year contract extension, according to a release from the basketball program.
President Fr. Kenneth Sicard decided, along with VP and Athletic Director Steve Napolillo, to give English the long term deal after a 21-14 season. The Friars made it to the NIT but lost in the first round.
However, English now has stability in the program.
“I’m very thankful to Father Sicard and Steve Napolillo for extending and deepening our connection to each other and the College,” English said. “I’m incredibly committed to our student athletes and all of Friartown. The support from our fans, the donors, and the community was overwhelming this past season, and that support is one of the many reasons that I believe our program can have success moving forward. I look forward to the exciting times ahead as we work to compete for championships.”
Winning 21 games in his first season continued English’s rise as a coach. He went 34-29 in two seasons at George Mason before he was hired prior to this season.
“Coach English has done an outstanding job leading our men’s basketball team in his inaugural year,” Father Sicard said. “Given the challenges from last season, he has shown an innate ability to inspire his players to persevere with confidence. We appreciate his commitment to our program, and we look forward to him doing so for many years to come.”
Moving forward, English and his staff have expectations to keep Providence on the rise and return to prominence as a northeast power.
“I have always felt that Coach English is a perfect fit for Providence College,” Napolillo said. “Watching Kim during his first season as the head coach at Providence College, it became even more evident that we have the right coach to guide our program. His ability to lead and teach our student-athletes is special. I am excited that we are able to strengthen our commitment to Kim and his staff with this contract extension and look forward to competing for BIG EAST Championships moving forward.”
English started his coaching career in 2015 following his pro career in the NBA and overseas. He was an assistant at Tulsa, Colorado and Tennessee before landing his first head coaching gig.
The former Missouri star was a second round draft pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 2012 NBA Draft.