At 64, Bill Coen remains one of college basketball’s most enduring figures. Since taking over at Northeastern in 2006, he has guided the program through highs and lows with remarkable steadiness and patience, an increasingly rare trait in today’s quick-turn coaching world.
Two Decades of Grit and Growth
Coen’s path began at Hamilton College, where he played in the early 1980s before moving into coaching. After a stint as an assistant at Rhode Island, he spent nearly a decade at Boston College, sharpening his skills before landing the head job at Northeastern.
It took just two years for Coen’s Huskies to post a winning record, reaching the CBI Quarterfinals in 2008-09. A pair of NIT trips followed before Northeastern broke through in 2014-15, capturing a share of the CAA title and the conference tournament crown. That team earned a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament and pushed Notre Dame to the brink before falling 69-65.
In 2018-19, the Huskies returned to the tournament as a No. 13 seed after another CAA Tournament title, though they were overmatched by Kansas in Salt Lake City.
Since then, postseason appearances have been elusive. The post COVID-19 season offered promise with an 8-2 league record, but Northeastern fell short of March Madness. Over his career, Coen owns a 299-299 overall mark, with a 178-154 record in conference play—a testament to consistency and competitiveness.
Building Forward Amid Change
Coen’s 20th season arrives with cautious optimism. Towson and UNC Wilmington sit atop the CAA hierarchy, but Northeastern aims to close the gap. The Huskies’ frontcourt adds size with newcomers Liam Koelsch (6-foot-9) from Virginia and 6-foot-11 Petar Pinter from Montenegro, joined by veteran forward Haris Elezovic, who transferred from West Virginia.
Replacing lost production will be critical. Leading scorer Rashad King (18.5 points per game) transferred to LSU, and second-leading scorer Masai Troutman departed for George Mason. Still, Coen’s steady leadership and eye for player development offer hope that the Huskies can rebuild cohesively.
For two decades, Bill Coen has represented perseverance in college basketball. As he embarks on his 20th season, he’s not chasing personal milestones, he’s chasing another shot at March.