The Providence Friars have pulled off a homecoming that could reshape their basketball program’s trajectory. On Tuesday, the team hired Ryan Gomes, their former All-American star and eight-year NBA veteran, as an assistant coach under Kim English.
The move represents a strategic coup for English, who enters his third season needing to turn around a program that struggled to a disappointing 12-20 record last year. Gomes brings instant credibility and deep institutional knowledge to a staff tasked with revitalizing Friar basketball.
Providence Basketball Alum Ryan Gomes Joins Friars’ Staff After NBA Stint
CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein broke the news via social media, announcing that “Providence’s Kim English will hire former Friar great Ryan Gomes as an assistant coach, per release.”
Providence’s Kim English will hire former Friar great Ryan Gomes as an assistant coach, per release.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 2, 2025
The hiring comes at a perfect time for both parties, as Gomes recently became available after the Portland Trail Blazers chose not to renew his contract as player development coach in April.
Gomes spent two seasons with Portland, working directly with players on skill development before the organization restructured their coaching staff. His departure from the Trail Blazers opened the door for a return to Providence, where he starred from 2001-2005 and remains one of the program’s most celebrated alumni.
The 6’7″ forward was a consensus First-Team All-American his junior year, posting averages of 18.9 points and 9.4 rebounds, while guiding Providence to a 20-9 record and NCAA Tournament berth in 2004. His four-year collegiate career averages of 18.4 points and 8.9 rebounds established him as one of the program’s all-time greats.
Selected No. 50 overall by Boston in 2005, Gomes enjoyed an eight-year NBA career with the Celtics, Timberwolves, Clippers, and Thunder. He finished with 4,926 points and 2,239 rebounds in 487 games, showing off the same versatility and basketball intelligence that made him a star at Providence.
His coaching credentials include stints as an assistant coach for the G-League’s Long Island Nets and as a head coach with Team Overtime in the Overtime Elite league. That background makes him well-suited to help English address the Friars’ recent woes with turnovers and defensive consistency as they struggled through the 2024-25 season.
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The Friars’ move to hire Gomes is big — not only are they bringing a legend home, who knows the culture and expectations of the program, but he also has professional experience to help grow the current players and draw in future stars.
His presence lends instant credibility in recruiting battles and offers a bridge between coaches and players, who can relate with his journey from college star to professional success.
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