If you’re bemoaning the fact that Providence College didn’t land Jim Larranaga, stop.

If you think it’s an embarrassment for the Friars that they couldn’t lure a former player who’s coaching in a mid-major conference to return to his alma mater, don’t.

Disappointing — even insulting — as it may be, in the opinion of some people — that Larranaga chose to stay at George Mason rather than take on the considerable challenge of trying to restore PC to its halcyon days of national prominence — his decision was understandable.

All it means is that, at age 58, Larranaga preferred to stay at a place where he is beloved (there is talk about naming the school gym in his honor), where he has been successful (taking the Colonials on an unforgettable trip to the Final Four in 2006, and back to the NCAA Tournament again this year), where he is well-paid (although not at the level PC was offering), and where his family has established roots (two sons have homes near him in northern Virginia).

A lesser man than Larranaga may have been motivated by vindictiveness in turning down the PC job. After all, they hadn’t wanted him when he would have jumped at the opportunity, instead hiring Rick Pitino, Pete Gillen and Tim Welsh. Now that he was the chosen one, there may have been a certain satisfaction in saying thanks, but no thanks.

But I don’t get any sense that was the case.

Larranaga was most definitely interested in the job, wanting to talk to PC officials as much as PC officials wanted to talk to him.

He was a natural fit — a former Friar who had led an unheralded, underdog team on an unexpected, and unprecedented, ride to the Final Four in 2006. So it was easy to see why the Rev. Brian Shanley, PC’s president, would like him.

Larranaga also was a safe pick for athletic director Bob Driscoll, whose own job performance ultimately will be judged by the record of the man he hires to fill the Friars’ basketball job.

But it’s not as if Driscoll was devastated, shocked, or hurt, by Larranaga’s decision. Nor was he left unprepared. Larranaga’s wasn’t the only name on Driscoll’s list. It was the first — as it arguably should have been — but Friar fans should rest assured that there are other coaches who can come to Providence and be successful.

Call me crazy — I’ve certainly been called worse, including on more occasions than I care to think about, by Friar fans — but I believe PC can compete successfully and consistently in the Big East.

That’s not to say I think they can consistently contend for the conference championship. But I see no reason why, with the right coach, they can’t be in the hunt just about every year for the fifth through eighth spots in the standings, which would almost certainly earn the Friars a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

It’ll be interesting to see, now that Tom Crean has moved to Indiana, who is hired to replace him by Big East rival, and fellow Catholic institution, Marquette.

Many — perhaps most — basketball fans would say that coaching at Marquette is a better job than coaching at Providence. An indication of whether that is true could be seen by who gets hired by the Golden Eagles and who gets hired by the Friars. But that’s still only perception. Even if, to many people — too many people, I’d say — perception is reality.

A much better indication will be where the respective programs are three-to-five years from now, when the new coaches at Marquette and PC will have established themselves. Remember, if you will, how excited St. John’s was to sign Norm Roberts. He hasn’t exactly done for the Red Storm what John Thompson III has done for Georgetown.

Driscoll is at the Final Four in San Antonio this weekend. It’s an opportunity to talk with prospective candidates and their agents. And it’s not as if he’s going to have to beg someone to take the PC coaching job.

I’m not one of those who thinks that winning at Providence is an all-but-impossible task. Difficult, yes. Without question. But not out of the question for the right bright, hard-working, charismatic coach.

Just because Larranaga turned them down, it doesn’t mean the Friars won’t land someone who will be successful.

jdonalds@projo.com