The University of Alabama will add Providence College associate head coach Ed Simon to its men basketball staff. The Tuscaloosa News has confirmed the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN's Jeff Goodman.
Simon would be the first new assistant coach brought in by Avery Johnson, who was hired as UA's new head coach earlier this month. Former UA player Antoine Pettway was retained from UA's previous staff.
A four-year assistant at Providence after coming from Fairfield with head coach Ed Cooley, Simon was promoted to associate head coach this season and helped the Friars earn an NCAA Tournament berth. Johnson became familiar with Simon when the new Crimson Tide head coach was with the Brooklyn Nets.
"Avery knew Bob could recruit nationally and that was enough to really interest him," Providence coach Ed Cooley told the Providence Journal on Sunday. "Bob went down there and felt really wanted and I know he'll be getting a nice raise. It was something he felt he couldn't say no to."
Despite coaching in the Big East, Simon has recruited extensively in the South and has been involved with top 2016 recruits including Josh Langford of Huntsville and Kobi Simmons of Atlanta.
IN OTHER basketball news, former UA guard Devin Mitchell announced on Sunday that he would transfer to Georgia State. Mitchell, who averaged 0.6 points per game in limited duty for UA last season, played high school basketball in Suwanee, Ga., on metropolitan Atlanta. He will be eligible for the Panthers in the 2016-17 season.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
This post was edited on 4/19 6:43 PM by Andrew Bone
Simon would be the first new assistant coach brought in by Avery Johnson, who was hired as UA's new head coach earlier this month. Former UA player Antoine Pettway was retained from UA's previous staff.
A four-year assistant at Providence after coming from Fairfield with head coach Ed Cooley, Simon was promoted to associate head coach this season and helped the Friars earn an NCAA Tournament berth. Johnson became familiar with Simon when the new Crimson Tide head coach was with the Brooklyn Nets.
"Avery knew Bob could recruit nationally and that was enough to really interest him," Providence coach Ed Cooley told the Providence Journal on Sunday. "Bob went down there and felt really wanted and I know he'll be getting a nice raise. It was something he felt he couldn't say no to."
Despite coaching in the Big East, Simon has recruited extensively in the South and has been involved with top 2016 recruits including Josh Langford of Huntsville and Kobi Simmons of Atlanta.
IN OTHER basketball news, former UA guard Devin Mitchell announced on Sunday that he would transfer to Georgia State. Mitchell, who averaged 0.6 points per game in limited duty for UA last season, played high school basketball in Suwanee, Ga., on metropolitan Atlanta. He will be eligible for the Panthers in the 2016-17 season.
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
This post was edited on 4/19 6:43 PM by Andrew Bone