New Coach Goes Viral By Challenging (And Beating) Players At 1-On-1 To Keep Them From Transferring

A basketball goes through the hoop.

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Kim English is the new head basketball coach at Providence College, and he’s using an interesting tactic to try and deter players from entering the transfer portal. English is challenging them to games of 1-on-1.

The rules are simple. If the player wins, they have the freedom to look around at other potential suitors. If English wins, the player stays.

The new head coach is trying to keep the program together following an offseason of drama.

The Friars burst onto the scene in 2022-23, looking like a Big East title contender midway through the year. An 18-6 start had many believing they’d bring home a second straight conference championship.

Instead, the team began to falter down the stretch. Providence finished the regular season 21-10, losers of four of their final seven contests. They then dropped the opening matchup of the Big East tournament before falling to Kentucky in the Big Dance.

Many blamed that disappointing finish on coach Ed Cooley already having one foot out the door. Shortly after the season ended, Cooley bolted for conference rival Georgetown.

As is the case with coaching changes, we often see players leave a program when their coach moves on. Kim English was hired as Cooley’s replacement, and he’s doing his best to limit the transfer portal losses.

He posted a video on his Instagram story this week showing him challenging (and beating) Jayden Pierre to a game of 1-on-1. Pierre entered his name into the transfer portal on Tuesday.

“All I’m saying is, Friar Nation, we came to the gym on a late night. We were hoopin’. I said, ‘Play me in a game of 1-on-1 to get out the portal.'”

The video continued on, with Pierre admitting to being beaten by the head coach.

Fans were quick to comment on the 1-on-1 matchup as they posted responses on social media.

One person wrote, “Kim English is one of my all-time favorites,” while someone else said, “Regardless if he transfers, this was epic.”

This fan posted, “Providence is in good hands.”

We’ll see if this has any influence on Pierre’s decision to stay at PC. From the looks of it, Kim English would be a fun coach to play for.