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College Basketball: Top 5 candidates for AP Coach of the Year

By Robert Molnar

Dec 20, 2014; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) and head coach Jay Wright and guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) celebrate a victory against the Syracuse Orange at Wells Fargo Center. Villanova defeated Syracuse 82-77. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) and head coach Jay Wright and guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) celebrate a victory against the Syracuse Orange at Wells Fargo Center. Villanova defeated Syracuse 82-77. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 19, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Providence Friars head coach Ed Cooley watches during the first half of a game against the Butler Bulldogs at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Providence Friars head coach Ed Cooley watches during the first half of a game against the Butler Bulldogs at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Ed Cooley, Providence

Playing in one of the most competitive conferences in all of college basketball, the Providence Friars currently sit at 18-6, with three of those losses coming against top-10 teams in Michigan State, Xavier and Villanova. However, what has to make the Friars record even more impressive is their victory over Arizona, sweep of conference foe Butler and defeat of now No. 1 Villanova.

While Providence is not thought about much outside of the Big East, the team has been gradually improving under Ed Cooley. His first two seasons at Providence the school missed the NCAA Tournament, however, over the last two seasons the team put up a combined record of 45-24 and made the tournament both years.

With recruiting starting to pick up in terms of quality under Cooley, Providence is in position to potentially make a deep run into the NCAA Tournament this March. The credit has to all go to Ed Cooley. With the only major roadblock the rest of this season being a game at Xavier, Providence has a chance to go undefeated for the rest of the campaign, going into the conference tournament with a 25-6 record.

Should the Friars also make a deep run into the Big East Conference tournament — potentially winning the Big East Conference Title — then Ed Cooley will easily find himself moving to the top of the list of many of the Associated Press Coach of the Year voters.

Next: Lon Kruger, Oklahoma