Rev. Shanley and Mr. Driscoll:

I am writing to you as a discouraged and dispirited Providence College alumnus and fan, dissatisfied with the current state of our men’s basketball team.  I am a passionate fan and follower of PC basketball since before my matriculation in 1993.  As a member of the U.S. Army, I have followed PC basketball from literally around the world and at all hours of the day and night.  Since graduating from Providence, I have contributed to the general and athletic department funds and spent thousands of dollars on PC and PC basketball paraphernalia. 

After nine years of constant disappointment and frustration, I respectfully request you strongly consider replacing Tim Welsh as the head coach of the men’s basketball team.  

It is obvious that Tim Welsh is a nice and decent man with wonderful intentions.  Regardless of the criteria used to measure success, however, Coach Welsh has not met the standard.  Since his hiring at Providence in 1998, Coach Welsh has led the Friars to a mediocre 145-127 record.  Welsh is the 3rd-longest tenured coach in the Big East behind only Hall-of-Fame members Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun, each of whom have won dozens of NCAA games and at least 1 National Championship.  But in 9 years at PC, Welsh won only 1 Big East Tournament game and 0 NCAA games.  He is 0-2 in the NCAA tournament despite being the favorite against both Penn State in 2001 and Pacific in 2005.  In his 6 non-NCAA seasons, he didn’t even make the NIT 4 times.  These figures indicate that five of Welsh’s eight completed seasons have been unmitigated failures.  Of the remaining three seasons, he had two first-round NCAA losses in games he should have won, and a loss in the NIT quarterfinals.  In 2005, with an All-American in Ryan Gomes, he did not even qualify for the NCAA tournament.  Coach Welsh has an overall postseason record of 3-13.  During the most crucial period of the season, Coach Welsh has never, not even once, produced positive results.  Specifically looking at Coach Welsh’s teams, they have, for nine seasons, struggled to play defense, struggled to avoid turnovers, and struggled to maintain offensive rhythm.

Quite simply, despite all the disadvantages of coaching at the smallest school in a high-major conference, losing many players to off-court incidents, coaching in a cold-weather environment, etc, Welsh has simply accomplished well below any reasonable expectation for this program.  Other programs, like Villanova, with similar challenges continually produce winning basketball teams.

            The patience of Friar fans is wearing thin, even causing some like myself to consider withholding their annual donations.  The frustration is not restricted to the fans, but is pervasive amongst the players.  This is evident by the rash of transfers that have plagued Coach Welsh’s tenure, and stunted any progress that may have been made.

Providence College basketball has a rich and storied tradition, of which its fans are extremely proud.  As an excellent academic institution in a vibrant American city, Providence College should demand similar excellence from its athletic endeavors, which in many cases serves as the public image of the college and a tremendous advertising resource.  Without a football program, the basketball team serves as the lone “face” of Providence athletics for potential students across the country.  As a member of the Big East, America’s premier basketball conference, Providence should never settle for merely “participating.”  As legendary football coach Knute Rockne once said, “Show me a good and gracious loser and I’ll show you a failure.” 

The past nine seasons have tainted Providence’s proud history.  Our image has been tarnished in the minds of the fans, the alumni, the media, and most importantly potential recruits.  If our team continues down its path of mediocrity and substandard performance, we will reach a state of irrelevancy from which we may never recover.  It is impossible to objectively look at Coach Welsh’s record and not reach the conclusion that he must be replaced.  I realize there are certain financial considerations that must be taken into account, but exercising short-sighted fiscal conservatism now will have long term ramifications which will ultimately lead to a pronounced decrease in revenue. 

            It is also important to realize that now is the time to make a change.  The roster of current players is full of sophomores and freshmen that are poised to lead Providence basketball into the 2007-2008 season as a top-rated and nationally competitive program.  I am convinced that despite the amount of talent and depth on the current and expected roster, Coach Welsh is not the man to lead that roster to fulfill its potential.  If the school allows Coach Welsh to squander this opportunity, which at a school like Providence comes about maybe once a decade, is akin to abandoning the basketball program entirely.  To think that after nine years of failure, Coach Welsh and his staff will suddenly succeed is disingenuous.

            I will always root for Providence College.  I love my alma mater and I genuinely just want what is best for the school and the community.  I honestly feel that replacing Coach Welsh is what’s best.  I understand your schedules may not allow for individual responses to this e-mail.  However, I hope that you find the time to read it and consider my thoughts, which I am confident represent the majority of Providence College fans and alumni.  I thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter.

GO FRIARS!!!