Coach Tim Welsh leaves the court after the Friars’ loss to West Virginia in the first round of the Big East Tournament.

The Journal / John Freidah

It didn’t take long after yesterday’s season-ending defeat for the focus surrounding the Friar program to shift to Tim Welsh’s job status.

Welsh was asked about his future by members of the press throughout the Big East. It is well known around the region that Welsh faced intense criticism most of this season and that with one year left on his current contract, Providence College needs to either extend the coach’s deal or decide to fire him.

Athletic director Bob Driscoll and the school’s president, the Rev. Brian Shanley, were both at the tournament at Madison Square Garden. They hosted a pre-tournament alumni gathering Tuesday night and attended yesterday’s game. Driscoll has said he always meets with his coaches at the end of a season, but this year’s conversation with Welsh certainly holds lofty stakes.

Asked yesterday when he might speak with Welsh, Driscoll said, “I have thought about it, but the game just ended. We haven’t had a chance to speak.”

Welsh answered his questioners with a business-as-usual approach. He says he’s expecting to recruit over the next few days.

“We’ll get the guys back in school and I’ll probably go recruiting somewhere this weekend,” Welsh said. “We’ll probably have a meeting on Monday and set up the spring workouts. We’ll just keep looking at players. That’s what we do in the offseason. We’ll do what we always do. There’s no change.”

The PC players hadn’t spoken about Welsh’s status until the final few days. Yesterday, several Friars supported the coach who recruited them and cited Sharaud Curry’s season-ending broken foot, as well as other injuries, as the root of the team’s 15-16 record.

“It’s real tough,” said Geoff McDermott. “Losing your starting point guard right away is hard. Everybody’s putting a lot of pressure on [Welsh], but that’s really tough. It’s not fair.”

McDermott added that Welsh “is a great coach, a great guy and does a good job.”

Freshman Marshon Brooks was clearly bothered by the specter of Welsh not being around for his collegiate career.

“It affects us a lot. He recruited me. He should get another chance. We got hit big by injuries and we had games down the stretch we could’ve won. We’re right there.”

Welsh said he hasn’t felt any extra pressure over the final few weeks of this season. “I prepare the same for every game, whether it’s an exhibition or the Big East Tournament. That pressure comes from within. That’s all you can do as a coach,” said Welsh.

kmcnamar@projo.com