Kim English Fined After Ejection Amid Tough Season for Providence Basketball
Providence College men’s basketball head coach Kim English found himself at the center of controversy following a February 12, 2025, game against Xavier University. The Big East Conference imposed a $5,000 fine on English for making critical remarks about a game official after he was ejected. English was removed from the game after receiving two technical fouls, which led to widespread media attention and questions about officiating standards within the conference.
During his post-game press conference, English did not hold back. While his comments were not overtly aggressive, he expressed clear frustration over the calls that led to his ejection. He stated his intent to understand what actions specifically resulted in the technical fouls, implying that the officiating lacked clarity or fairness. This open questioning of referee decisions was ultimately what led the Big East to discipline him with the financial penalty.
This incident served as a microcosm of a larger struggle throughout the season for Providence. The Friars endured a difficult campaign, finishing with a disappointing 12-20 overall record. Their season came to an end following a loss to Butler in the opening round of the Big East Tournament on March 12. After the defeat, English didn’t mince words when describing the state of the program. He called the team’s performance “pitiful” and “embarrassing,” accepting full responsibility for the outcome. He made it clear that changes needed to be made and pledged to take steps to improve the direction of the team.
Despite the team’s 12-20 final record, Providence had earlier in the year shown promise, ending a different part of the season with a 21-13 record. However, this was not enough to earn them a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The exclusion sparked another round of public criticism from English, who voiced his disapproval of the tournament’s selection process. He particularly took issue with the metrics and analytics that the committee used to evaluate teams. According to English, the criteria used to determine tournament eligibility didn’t accurately reflect his team’s capabilities or achievements. He even hinted at needing to revise the team’s future scheduling methods in order to better align with the expectations of the selection committee.
