PROVIDENCE - Now that the search for a new Providence College basketball coach has been completed, it seems clear that one facet of the process turned out differently than expected.

Officially, the search was conducted by one man, Bob Driscoll, the school's athletics director. In reality, though, he was not alone. He had a partner throughout the process - the Rev. Brian J. Shanley, the school president.

Rarely, if ever, has a PC president become so involved in choosing a coach. That could be great news for Keno Davis, the new coach, and the basketball program.

As Friar fans know, the relationship between the basketball office and the president's office has not always been the best. For an athletic program to succeed, especially a small school like Providence in the ultra competitive Big East, everyone from the president on down has to be on the same page. There have been times, as former PC coaches can testify, when that was not the case.

It has been clear since Father Shanley became school president three years ago that the relationship would be better under his leadership. Father Shanley grew up a Friar fan in Warwick and graduated from PC in 1980. Still, never has Father Shanley's support for athletics been as clear as it was in the search for the basketball coach.

The president is open and candid about how heavily he was involved.

"It's been an educational experience for me. I've never been through anything like this before,'' he said. "We had to try to find the person who was the right fit for Providence.''

Father Shanley feels more than satisfied with the result.

"People ask me if I think this has taken too long. I would say right now no, because we got the guy,'' he said. "In fact (Tuesday) we were talking (with Davis) about Drake, the challenges he faced there and how he was successful. I thought to myself, 'This is perfect he's at good school. He's had to recruit good student-athletes there.'

"One of the things he told me that I really enjoyed hearing from him was that one of the reasons they were successful this year is that he had smart players. He could do a lot of things with them. He could change defenses on the fly and tell them to do certain things. I thought, 'Oh, this is what I want. I want a guy who will recruit good kids who are good students and play smart basketball.' My kind of guy.''

The experience brought home how close the PC family is.

"We talked a lot with Rick [Pitino]. We talked with Dave Gavitt a lot. He was a very influential figure. We talked with Billy Donovan. We talked with Rick Barnes, all the PC guys,'' Father Shanley reported.

"One of things Bob and I have both taken away is that we have a Friar basketball family of very impressive people and they care about Providence College. That's buoyed us and helped us through the whole process. It is a good feeling,'' he said.

Driscoll, who has quietly gone about his job, was glib and outgoing at the news press conference that introduced Davis. What looked like a major hurdle turned into what appears, for now at least, to be his finest moment yet at the school. He had words, as he was introducing Davis, which had to make PC fans feel good.

"Lastly, and equally important to me, was the belief that we can compete successfully in the Big East,'' Driscoll said. "I don't want any more excuses. I want somebody who says 'We can get the job done.' We thought about what he accomplished last year and it's exactly the same in that conference as it is in ours. I'm absolutely pleased that we found the right guy."