NEW YORK - MARCH 9: Head coach John Carroll of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on March 9, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. The Celtics won 87-84. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - MARCH 9: Head coach John Carroll of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on March 9, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. The Celtics won 87-84. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Rhode Island Basketball

Rhode Island Basketball: Rhody to Hire John Carroll as Assistant Coach

by Dave Ascoli

New Rhody head coach David Cox has reportedly made his first hire. Rhode Island is expected to name long-time basketball coach John Carroll as an assistant.

Shortly after he was hired at URI, David Cox talked about his ‘to-do list’. Well he seems to be moving through it quite nicely. The new Rhody head coach has one more assistant spot to fill, and he has reportedly made his decision. Cox will hire former Boston Celtics head coach John Carroll, according to multiple reports. Per usual, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports had the news first.

More from Rhode Island Basketball

For those unfamiliar with Carroll, the “former Boston Celtics head coach” tag line only tells part of the story. The 62 year old has a heck of a resume, highlighted by a seven-year stint as an assistant at Seton Hall. That was prior to Dan Hurley’s playing days, but it’s worth noting that Carroll was on the staff for the Pirates 1988-89 run to the National Championship game.

Carroll was also the head coach at Duquesne from 1989-1995 and was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the year in 1990–91. He followed that up with seven years as an assistant with the Celtics before his interim stint as the head coach prior to the hire of Doc Rivers. Carroll is currently coaching with the New England Playaz AAU program.

The praise is already heaping in on the hire. Here’s ESPN’s Adam Finkelstein.

Obviously Carroll is a grizzled veteran, but the Rams already have young guns in Ty Boswell and T.J. Buchanan on the staff. They don’t need a full youth movement. URI hasn’t made an official announcement on the hire yet, but we’ll keep you posted when that happens.