PC’s Weyinme Efejuku and his mom Inez, center, look at some photos with Friar boosters Wayne and Dianne Webb of Warwick at last night’s end-of-season dinner.

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The Providence Journal / Kris Craig

PROVIDENCE — In between sips of cocktails and bites of their meals, the most-asked question floating across the lips of Providence College basketball boosters at last night’s team banquet at the Providence Biltmore was a simple one: Who are they going to hire?

That’s the question that has hovered over the program for a month now, and while there are indications that PC is closing in on its man, everyone is growing a bit tired of the month-long process. Of course, the Friars thought they had a new coach twice before in this laborious process and were ultimately turned down, first by George Mason’s Jim Larranaga and then by UMass’ Travis Ford.

PC’s fans and players have followed the search’s twists and turns closely.

“I really follow it,” said junior guard Jeff Xavier. “Everyone’s been wrong so far. But we’re sticking together. We’re all in this together.”

The point man for the search, athletic director Bob Driscoll, was not in attendance last night. Instead, school president Rev. Brian J. Shanley stood in and welcomed everyone to the end-of-season banquet, brought the fans up to date on the search and praised the players for their efforts through a season that ended with a 15-16 record.

“Bob is working on hiring the next coach. He regrets not being able to be here,” said Shanley. “Timing is so important in this process, which we’ve learned. The most important thing is getting the next coach, and that’s what Bob is working towards.”

It appears that PC has now focused its search on Drake’s Keno Davis. It took the Friars several weeks to contact the Associated Press’ National Coach of the Year, but he has emerged as the leading candidate to take the job. Barring a breakdown in negotiations, Davis could be introduced as the next coach at Providence as early as today. In his first year on the job, the 36-year-old Davis led Drake to a 28-5 record this season. The Bulldogs were upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Western Kentucky in a wild overtime game.

Davis was born and raised in Massachusetts and is the son of Dr. Tom Davis, the former head coach at Boston College. Tom Davis eventually landed at Drake and helped his son take over the position.

After being turned down by Ford last week, PC contacted Davidson’s Bob McKillop but was dismissed. Three other prospects — George Washington’s Karl Hobbs, Iona College’s Kevin Willard and Hofstra’s Tom Pecora — were all not in the mix as of yesterday.

PC’s Shanley has clearly been heavily involved in the search process. He met with both Larranaga and Ford and has consulted with Driscoll on an almost daily basis.

“I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed,” Shanley said. “We’ve talked with some great coaches that we thought would be successful at Providence. We haven’t yet found the right person. I’m a man of faith. I believe in Divine Providence.”

Shanley said he’d like to hire “someone with a proven, successful track record,” but has realized that timing is vital to the process. “We’re trying to convince coaches to leave some place they’ve grown accustomed to and there are family considerations involved. Believe me, it’s not like nobody wants the job. We just haven’t gotten to a point of closure yet.”

Former PC head coach Tim Welsh and two of his assistants, Steve DeMeo and Vince Cautero, were not in attendance. All three were relieved of their duties last month. Two other members of the coaching staff, Allen Griffin and Kevin Kurbec, were retained to monitor the academic progress of the players and hold informal workouts, and both were at the dinner.

Driscoll met with the players last Friday and tried to stress patience to a team that will lose only one senior, forward Charles Burch.

“[Driscoll] just said to stick with him. He’s trying his best and wants to find the right person,” said Xavier.

Shanley says he has faith that Driscoll’s search will ultimately bear fruit.

“Bob sees much of the heat on this, which we understand,” he said, “but I think Bob is doing a great job. I don’t second guess what he’s doing at all. I have more confidence in Bob now than I ever have.”

kmcnamar@projo.com