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Marty Aproian's avatar

Well said Kevin. The step that Coach Kim took was just too big. First replacing Coach Cooley was almost impossible and second being so young and only coaching George Mason for a couple years made it impossible. Like he said coaching in the big east against all the other established coaches was a challenge that he couldn’t win. Coach Kim will get another head coaching job somewhere and he will improve. Timing was off on this one. Five years from now who knows maybe he’ll be back,

db's avatar

Well said Kevin. While I would have been ok with another season with KE, understanding the multiple needs of the college, made that impossible.

Oscar Chilabato's avatar

Very fair assessment.

And actually very disappointing it didn’t work out. Hope the Friars can recover- will be interesting to see what this team will look like next year.

John Blain's avatar

Nice piece of journalism, Kevin. Thanks.

TF31's avatar

Well said, as always.

Tim Brennan's avatar

Appreciate this article. From a distance, I had the sense that Kim is as you describe him; in many ways seemed the perfect fit for Providence and we could imagine him staying and succeeding for a long time. Really wish it could have worked out but fully agree with the decision.

Mike C's avatar

Well said, Kev. A bad collective outcome is often the product of a lot of little things. It feels like that was the case here. Friartown transcends bad games and bad seasons, we will be ready for next season!

CMP's avatar

Dead on.. Portal misses and just a refusal to adjust playing style doomed him.

Really wanted him to succeed. Checked every box on paper and was maybe the best recruiter besides Barnes at PC ever.

Mike's avatar

Well said Kevin. Kim will be an excellent coach some day; he already is a genuinely good human being. He was however put in an almost impossible situation after we rushed to plug a Cooley hole, with 20-20 hindsight, much too rashly. The Friars will rise again and Kim will as well. Hail Providence! …From this soon-to-be Golden Friar who was a Freshman when Ernie, Marvin, and Stacom almost took us to the pinnacle ( absent a Marvin knee injury) in 1973! We shall be back! GO FRIARS!!

JW's avatar

Appreciate your insights Kevin. I don’t disagree that the fans were intense after Cooley walked away, But I don’t think that changed Kim’s opportunity. In fact Kim’s strength was his intensity and focus on the game. Remember’Mindset’? Kim’s teams failed to execute in the winning moments. They played frustratingly dumb. Coach had a fair opportunity but failed to win. I just didn’t see enough improvement in the team’s performance that would’ve made a case to keep him.

Dan Duffy's avatar

Riddle me this, will any of Kim’s talented recruits stay? Will any of his targeted future recruits still choose PC? How much money just went down the drain? Not including Kim’s buyout, I assume it’s not chump change. Looks to me like a big black eye for our beloved Friars. I think Kim should have be given at least another year and that his firing is a huge mistake. I truly hope I’m wrong and only time will tell. Kim got snake bit by unbelievable bad luck not brought on by his fault. As a forever Friar I will continue to support PC as I am so proud of my alma mater. Go Friars

bpd01's avatar

Thanks, Kevin. Great take. Lost in all this is the $$. I know we were on our back foot coming out of Cooley's departure, but now we're in the hole having to buy out Kim, right? Considering all that was paid to Bryce only to have him leave for a rival and now this? The amount of money being thrown around is crazy. If Kim hire was that much of a disaster I don't see how Nap's responsibility isn't part of the conversation...either way he needs to deliver on this next hire. Look forward to hearing thoughts on the candidates out there and the process as it develops.