Ed Cooley ’94 Receives Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree at 2024 Commencement

As a men’s basketball coach who has served with distinction at several institutions of higher learning, including Stonehill College, Fairfield University, Providence College, and Georgetown University, among others, you have dedicated your career to the pursuit of athletic excellence. Across the last 17 seasons, you have earned an impressive 334-222 winning record. This remarkable achievement is matched by your incredible commitment to good sportsmanship.   

As a mentor to countless student-athletes over the years, you have encouraged the young men you coach to support their teammates, play fair, and lead on and off the court.  

As a graduate of Stonehill College, you uphold the mission of your alma mater by coaching with integrity and compassion. For your distinguished professional achievements and leadership in your field, you previously received Stonehill’s Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2012. 

Throughout your career, you have received many other awards in recognition of your work, including Coach of the Year honors from multiple organizations. As the inaugural recipient of the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year Award, given annually to the most outstanding minority men’s head basketball coach in NCAA Division I competition, you have inspired others in their work to make college athletics more diverse, equitable and inclusive.  

For your dedication and passion for helping young people exceed their potential as players and people, you have earned appreciation and acclaim from student-athletes, colleagues, fans and the Stonehill College community.   

For your leadership and contributions to the education of the whole person, Stonehill College is proud to bestow upon you, Ed Cooley, honoris causa, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. 

Given this nineteenth day of May, 
Two Thousand Twenty-Four 

(Rev.) John F. Denning, C.S.C. 
President, Stonehill College