Challenging was the operative word for Providence College athletics in 2007-08, and, as is usually the case, men's basketball was the center of attention.

The Friars, minus injured point guard Sharaud Curry for most the season, struggled to a losing record overall and in the Big East. A blowout loss at the University of Rhode Island was a season lowlight.

Coach Tim Welsh, a target of disgruntled fans as the season wore on, was fired even though he had a year remaining on his contract. Athletics director Bob Driscoll eschewed the traditional search committee and set out on his own to find a replacement.

After PC alum Jim Larranaga, head coach at George Mason, and head coach Travis Ford of Massachusetts rejected his offers, Driscoll finally landed the national coach of the year, Keno Davis of Drake.

"The hiring of Keno Davis was an important move because the way our men's basketball program goes, the rest of the department goes. Hiring Keno gives us a fresh start," Driscoll said.

Firing Welsh was not easy.

"It was tough because you care: This is what I do; this is my life. You're committed to the people around you. In a lot of respects it's like dealing with family members," Driscoll said.

But with so much riding on the performance of the basketball team, he had no choice but to make a change.

"It was very, very challenging emotionally for a lot of folks. It had to be done," he said.

Criticism during the season and during the search didn't bother Driscoll. "Most important is what my president thinks," he said. "I feel proud of the way it ended [but] I've been at it 33 years, and it doesn't get any easier."

Only field hockey, men's soccer and volleyball posted winning overall records last year. Women's tennis, men's basketball and lacrosse were a victory under .500, women's ice hockey and softball at .500. Field hockey, men's soccer, volleyball, women's ice hockey and lacrosse had winning league records.

"You have to look at our nonconference schedules," Driscoll said. "Lacrosse played a big-time schedule. Ice hockey played the best teams in the country. Softball played major Division I programs. The basketball team played in Puerto Rico and the TD Banknorth Garden. It's not like we're scheduling weak nonconference opponents. You have to look at who we're competing against. That's what matters. Our teams compete against the best in the country. It's tough to have consistent success, given we're the smallest school in the Big East with the least resources."

It was a good year in some respects, Driscoll said. The Big East formed a lacrosse league, of which Providence is a member. The new fitness center opened. Renovations continue on the Dunkin' Donuts Center. A new sports medicine facility is nearing completion. The GPA for athletes was 3.0. All that should help with recruiting.

"It's a statement that you're serious about competing at a high level. Before we were doing it with smoke and mirrors and the Big East name," Driscoll said.

He is looking forward to the start of a new year, next month.

"With change comes a new energy," he said. "This feels like a new beginning."

The summary:

MEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY: Finished third in Big East, second in NCAA Northeast Regional and 27th in NCAA National; Ahmed Haji was All-America; Max Smith won NCAA Regional.

WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY: Finished second in Big East, first in NCAA Northeast Regional and 26th in NCAA National; Danette Doetzel won regional title and was All-America.

FIELD HOCKEY (14-8, 4-2 Big East): Runner-up in Big East tournament; Rachel Chamberlain was BE goalkeeper of the year; nationally ranked for second consecutive season; Julie Ruggieri (Barrington) made the national all-academic team.

MEN'S SOCCER (9-8-2, 5-4-2): Third consecutive winning season and NCAA appearance; Ryan Maduro (Bristol) was first-team All-Big East and PC's male athlete of the year for a team sport.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (3-14-1, 2-9): Finished seventh; did not win a game on the road.

WOMEN'S TENNIS (9-10): Finished fourth at New Englands; Kate Lyons (Barrington) and Jen Cusack were 7-1 in doubles in the fall; Lyons received the school's Sine Qua Non Award for her contributions to PC and tennis.

VOLLEYBALL (19-12, 3-1 Independent): Won most matches since 1997 team won 21.

MEN'S BASKETBALL (15-16, 6-12): Tim Welsh was fired at end of season and Keno Davis hired; played most of season without injured point guard Sharaud Curry; was the second-best three-point shooting team in the Big East.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (12-17, 2-14): Played entire season without leading scorer Chelsea Marandola and second-leading scorer Catherine Bove; Mi-Khida Hankins named to Big East all-freshman team.

MEN'S ICE HOCKEY (14-17-5, 11-11-5 Hockey East): Ranked as high as No. 11; beat NCAA champion Boston College twice on the road.

WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY (16-16-4; 10-8-3): Runner-up in Hockey East tournament; Kathleen Smith was first-team All-Hockey East.

MEN'S INDOOR TRACK: Finished 12th in the Big East; Hayden McLaren finished 12th in the mile at the NCAA Championships; Haji was the New England 5,000 champion.

WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK: Finished 13th in the Big East; Doetzel finished 13th in the NCAA 5,000.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING (1-6): Finished 12th in the Big East; Courtney Larcom set a school record in the 1,500 freestyle.

MEN'S SWIMMING (1-6): Finished 11th in the Big East and doubled point total of last three seasons.

SOFTBALL (25-25-2, 8-12): Qualified for Big East tournament for second time in three years; upset No. 18 Georgia and won at Notre Dame for the first time.

MEN'S LACROSSE (7-8, 7-1 MAAC): Tied for first in regular season; Ben Johnston was MAAC defensive player of the year and Chris Burdick coach of the year.

MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK: Finished 13th in the Big East; Ahmed Hajii ran the 5,000 at the NCAA championships but did not score.

WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK: Finished 14th in the Big East and tied for 31st at the NCAA Championships; Doetzel won the Big East and finished second at the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 and was All-America. Katie DiCamillo ran the 5,000 at the NCAA Championships and did not score.