Friday night, Nov. 9, marks the first time in nearly five years that a men’s basketball game will be played at legendary Alumni Hall.
The “Red Sea” will file into the hall, donning red and white shirts, preparing for yet another season that begins with a fervent sense of hope and newfound optimism.
It’s safe to say it will be a night to remember.
The Stags start their season with a renewed sense of pride, optimism and dedication that we haven’t seen in years for one main reason: they’ll be led to the court by a new head coach.
Not just any coach, a coach that demands excellence. One that brings with him the promise of a hopeful future, a future that will potentially bring Fairfield back to the glory of the bygone years Alumni Hall has seen.
“I’m just excited to play a game. It’s going to be a special night,” he said.
Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Ed Cooley.
On April 11, 2006 Cooley was announced as the 11th head coach in Fairfield basketball history. He replaces Tim O’Toole, who led Fairfield to a 112-120 record and only one appearance in the MAAC championship game in nine seasons.
The Fairfield Athletic Department felt that a change was needed. Luckily for Fairfield, the Boston College assistant just happened to be available.
Cooley began his coaching career at UMass Dartmouth. He later went on to coach at his alma mater, Stonehill College, for one season. He then moved to University of Rhode Island, where he was a part of Coach Al Skinner’s staff for the Rams. A year later, Skinner and his workforce moved on to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to take over the reigns at Boston College.
Cooley spent nine seasons as an assistant coach under Skinner at Boston College. During his tenure the Eagles had five 20-win seasons and qualified for the NCAA tournament five times.
Last season, the Eagles advanced to the ACC championship game and made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, losing to top-ranked Villanova by one point.
Any follower of BC basketball knows that Cooley, aside from being a dedicated recruiter behind the scenes, was a visible sight on the bench because of his passion and desire to win. At the April press conference introducing Cooley, Fairfield Athletic Director Gene Doris cited “enthusiasm” and “success as a top-notch recruiter” as the main reason for bringing him in.
A large part of the recruiting battle in the years to come will be convincing potential players that Fairfield’s basketball future is bright. Cooley made a name for himself as a strong recruiter at BC.
However, it is one thing to accumulate the nation’s best talent at BC, a school with a prestigious athletic program, but it is another to do so here. Thus far however, Cooley couldn’t be happier.
“We’re already done for 2007,” he said. “Nine out of ten players that came for official visits committed. That’s one of the best marks in school history.”
Fairfield is Cooley’s opportunity to build his own program. For his first head coaching job he, not only has to prepare a team for the upcoming season, but also must restore a wounded basketball program that is coming off of a 9-19 season in which they finished eighth in the MAAC.
“The important thing for us this year is to have the players stay positive – especially the freshman. He added, “We have 13 new guys this year. It’s very important not only to coach but to educate.”
Thus far he has done all that right things toward taking Fairfield in the direction of a flourishing program with a winning legacy. The incoming freshman class is full of promise, as the students’ height addresses Fairfield’s Achilles’ heel, size.
That, in addition to a very talented sophomore class, gives the Stags a strong foundation.
Aside from the recruiting battle, one of the toughest schedules in school history ensures that the Stags will be playing premier competitions every week.
In addition to the normal MAAC rivalries, Fairfield has also scheduled games against basketball powerhouse UConn, Cooley’s former employer Boston College and other elite programs such as Georgetown, Providence and St. Joseph’s.
“Obviously it’s a tough schedule,” Cooley said. “But the important thing is to generate excitement in the community about this team and about this program. I’m just laying the foundation for the future.”
We may not see the desired result right away, but it is already apparent that the coach’s grand plan of a return to glory has begun.
It all starts on a Saturday night, when the dilapidated doors and basketball-starved wooden court of Alumni Hall finally get what they have long deserved: another basketball game.
It is the ultimate irony: the school’s past glory and tradition comes face-to-face with its future in the form of its new coach and the 2006-2007 Stags.
It will certainly be a night to remember.
And if Cooley has anything to do about it, it will be one of many unforgettable nights to come.
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