Ruane Friar Development Center is the new home of the Friar men’s basketball team and it significantly enhances the lives of the student-athletes as the facility includes two basketball courts, a locker room, offices, a strength and conditioning room, an athletic training room and a dining room.
Dunkin’ Donuts Center Excitement... Electricity... Intimidation! It all adds up to a tremendous HOME COURT ADVANTAGE! Playing for Providence Basketball means playing all of your home games in the 12,410 seat Dunkin’ Donuts Center, packed with FRIAR FANATICS. Visiting teams don’t like to play here. It’s not hard to figure out why!
Providence College Locker Room The Locker Room has all the amenities that a player would need. Specially engineered lockers provide ample space and high tech ventilation for all the players’ gear. Showers and a steam room are adjacent to the player changing area. Constructed in a circular design to enhance communication and instruction, the locker room opens to the dual court practice facility.
“The new Friar locker room rivals anything I have seen during my time in the NBA. This facility gives the players so many advantages to train and prepare for the next level.” — Former Friar and current Chicago Bull Kris Dunn ‘16
Providence College Player Lounge
The Player Lounge features couches that are positioned in front of two televisions with Xbox, Playstation, and DIRECTV. To keep the team informed there are constant news and sports feeds on the interactive ticker. Players also have 24-hour access to the mini kitchen in the lounge with a smoothie bar and snacks. The Player Lounge is adjacent to the team barber shop.
& Dining Space
Friartown Fuel keeps the Friar athletes hydrated and nourished at all times. This unique dining space located on the second floor of the Ruane Development Center has seating for more than 40 student-athletes. Also it is an ideal space for gatherings and game watches as it features a retractable television, a full-service kitchen and a balcony overlooking the Ray Treacy Track complex.
Providence College Team Room
The Team Room is the perfect place for the players to prepare for practices and games through video technology. It has 25 theatre-style seats, a projection screen with a readable/writeable surface, and a built in computer with telestration to help with video work.
Providence College Basketball Office Suite
The Office Suite features a reception area, conference room, individual offices for the staff, team lounge, barber shop, locker rooms, and a team room.
Calabria Lobby of Champions The Calabria Lobby of Champions is a multi-floor exhibit area that chronicles some of the greatest moments in Friar Basketball history. Highlighting the lobby is a video wall which can also serve for game watch parties. In the lower level, fans are treated to gear displays that showcase the latest in Friar team gear, trophies, great BIG EAST and NCAA moments, Friar Legends and a interactive video for fans to get a up close look at the Dunkin‘ Donuts Center “experience.” Overlooking the entrance to the lobby is a nine-foot tall statue of Friar coaching greats Joe Mullaney and Dave Gavitt.
Providence College Strength and Conditioning
Friar student-athletes have three strength and conditioning facilities available for them to use. Men’s basketball trains in the newest facility located in the Ruane Development Center just steps away from Oliver and Donovan courts. The 3,500 square feet strength and conditioning center features seven custom made 10-foot Power Racks to accommodate taller athletes. The racks allow the athletes to perform numerous exercises within a training session in a self-contained area. Three 4’ lanes that are 60’ long made of multipurpose indoor field turf that allows for countless drills. Other equipment includes: 85 medicine
balls ranging from 5 pounds to 250 pounds; 36 pairs of dumbbells ranging from 5 to 100 pounds; 24 sets of Kettlebells ranging from 15 pound to 175 pounds; 21 Olympic Weightlifting barbells; 8 Hexagonal Trap Deadlift Bars; 7 Multi Grip Strongman Barbells; 6 Strongman Steel Logs; 28 weighted vests; 16 plyometric boxes for jump training; and 20,000 pounds of weights. Custom made peg boards and monkey bars are also available for the athletes.
Providence College Innovation Lab Providence College student-athletes are at the forefront of innovative technology. Located on the second floor of the Ruane Friar Development Center, the Innovation Lab is available to all Friar student-athletes. This facility is an extension to our sports medicine department with a focus on “rest and recovery.” The Innovation Lab features: · Sports Nutrition/Dietician office
· Sports Psychology/Mental Health office · A Sleep/Napping room with (5) “Nap” pods · A Bod-Pod: designed to determine % body fat · A treadmill with Max VO2 capability
· (5) Zero Gravity reclining chairs with Recovery Pump equipment · (2) Sensory Deprivation Float tanks · A Cryo-therapy chamber · A high end massage chair
Oliver and Donovan Practice Courts
The centerpiece for the Ruane Friar Development is a state-of-the-art multi-court practice facility. Named after generous donors - The Oliver Family and former Friar great Billy Donovan - this 11,500 square foot facility provides the Friar athletes with an experience that is second to none in the college basketball community. The Canestrari Closing Room overlooks the facility and provides visitors a unique viewing opportunity of the Friar practices.
Providence College College
Providence College was founded in 1917 through a joint effort of the Diocese of Providence and the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph, with the blessing of Pope Benedict XV and the consent of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island. One hundred three years later, Providence College has steadily moved to a position of national prominence, while maintaining a personal, community-like atmosphere that fosters growth and development among its student population. Located in the state capital of Rhode Island, the Providence College campus sits on 101 acres in the northern end of town, just 10 minutes from the heart of the city.
Providence College Campus Life
The scenic suburban campus is the home of 4,143 students. Seventy five percent of the student population resides on campus. There are 14 dorms on campus, including the air-conditioned apartments that feature full kitchens and bathrooms.
Providence College Academic Services
The Office of Academic Services (OAS) provides specialized support to student-athletes in light of the unique time demands, responsibilities, and rules governing participation in intercollegiate athletics. A number of services are provided in a safe, personal environment where academic growth is a priority, personal development and independence are enhanced, and long-term success is nurtured by a staff which models these same commitments.
Media Attention
Big East Conference Playing in the BIG EAST means playing against the best - The BEST Players –The BEST Coaches – The BEST Conference in College Basketball. To be the best, you have to test yourself against the best. When you play in the BIG EAST, you’re playing at the highest level in collegiate athletics. The BIG EAST Conference is one of the most recognizable Division I conferences in the country. Formed in 1979, the league represents the athletic interests of 11 member institutions: Butler University, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, Seton Hall University, St. John’s University, Uconn, Villanova University and Xavier University. Each year, at the conclusion of the regular s eason all 11 teams gather in New York City for the BIG EAST Championship. It is multiple days of action-packed college basketball, played in historic Madison Square Garden. In fact, the Garden has been the home of the BIG EAST Tournament for so many years that it’s the longest running college basketball postseason tournament played at the same venue. With all the intense competition and dramatic games that players experience during the conference season and tournament, it is no surprise that the BIG EAST has always been a force in the NCAA Tournament. The league regularly sends multiple teams to MARCH MADNESS and many of the member schools have made deep runs in the tournament. Nine of the 11 BIG EAST programs have made it all the way to the Final Four and all 11 have reached the Sweet Sixteen.
If you like MEDIA ATTENTION, if you like playing on TELEVISION, if you like being INTERVIEWED, Providence College is the place for you! Nearly every Friar game is televised. Each season, the team is featured nationally on FOX Sports 1, ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS. In addition, over 200 newspaper and radio and television stations cover PC each season. Plus, playing in the BIG EAST Conference means that you’ll be playing in the MOST TELEVISED LEAGUE in the country! Under the broadcast partnership, FOX Sports 1 has television rights to a wide range of marquee BIG EAST basketball games, including the annual BIG EAST tournament.
The Ocean State Make no mistake, as soon as you land at the airport or cross the state line, you are in FRIARTOWN. The state of Rhode Island is comprised of hard-working, family-oriented people who are Friar Fanatics. And make no mistake, you are in the most unique state in the country. Rhode Island has the country’s best beaches, a beautiful New England coastline, country charm, city life advantages in Providence, the mansions in Newport, American history in every town, and, of course, the Providence College Friars.
Providence Basketball In The Community Being a Providence College student-athlete involves more than just academics and athletics. It involves the community and helping others. Head Coach Ed Cooley and the Friars get involved with organizations such as the Down Syndrome Society of Rhode Island, Ryan Gomes Hoops for Heart Health,
Special Olympics, Rhode Island Foster Parent Association, Boys and Girls Club of Providence and Upward Bound, to name a few. Whether it is charity golf outings, reading to school children, visiting hospitals, serving as mentors or helping the less fortunate, the Providence College Friars are there for the community.