by Izzy Mignardi ‘27 on November 20, 2025
Sports
“Want to get Alumni?” your roommate asks you (probably several times a week).
You go, and you head straight to the part of Alumni Hall that he or she might be referring to—the cafeteria with a variety of food options, but most importantly, a Ben and Jerry’s fridge. Other days, the two of you head to the gym and rush straight past the rows of plaques on the wall to your left. Safe to say, most students don’t pay much attention to the namesake of the Hall: the alumni who are honored there.
In honor of The Cowl’s 90th anniversary, here are nine of Providence College’s most notable athletic alumni:
Lenny Wilkens ’60 was a three-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, coach, and assistant coach. Wilkens led the Friars to their first NIT appearance and later to the NIT finals. During his time at PC, he averaged 14.9 ppg and 7.3 rpg, leading him to be named an All-American in his final year, 1960. He played 15 years in the NBA and coached for 32 years, including coaching the U.S. Olympic Team in 1996.
Emily Sisson ’15, a recent graduate, holds the record for fastest American female marathoner, completing the Chicago Marathon in 2022 with a time of 2:18:29. During her time at PC, she was a two-time NCAA champion of the 5000m race, setting the indoor record for women. She went on to break several records in the half marathon as well as the marathon and placed No. 23 in the women’s marathon at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Ernie DiGregorio ’73 holds the record for PC men’s basketball in assists and field goals. When he graduated, he reached All-American status and was named New England Player of the Year and Eastern Player of the Year. He was selected third overall by the Buffalo Braves in ’73 and went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
When Doris Sable Burke ’87 graduated, she left Providence as an all-time assist leader in women’s basketball. She made 87 consecutive starts beginning in 1984, when she made the Big East All-Rookie Team. She, too, was named an All-American in her final year at PC. She went on to become a TV basketball analyst for ESPN and ABC. Burke made history as the first female commentator to call a New York Knicks game. In 2023, ESPN assigned her to their No. 1 NBA commentary team.
Jimmy Walker ’67 left Providence as the men’s basketball all-time leading scorer with 2,045 career points. He was named Eastern Sophomore of the Year in ’65 and Eastern Player of the Year in ’67. He was selected first overall in the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons and continued to play in the NBA for nine years.
Kim Smith ‘05 is a five-time All-American graduate of PC. She is a four-time NCAA champion and three-time Big East Champion. In 2004, she set two NCAA indoor records in the 5,000 meters and 3,000 meters, becoming the first PC athlete to secure two NCAA titles in one meet. She ran for New Zealand in the 2004, 2008, and 2010 Olympics.
Marvin Barnes ’74 was named New England Player of the Year for his role on the men’s basketball team when he graduated from PC. He was a two-time All-American during his junior and senior years and a three-time All-New England team member from his sophomore to senior year. In 1973, he helped the Friars to a Final Four appearance. He had a career average of 20.7 ppg and 17.9 rpg. Barnes was drafted by the Denver Rockets as a junior and by the Philadelphia 76ers as a senior. Even though he was officially undrafted during the ’74 ABA draft, he signed with the Spirits of St. Louis in ’74. He played in the ABA until it merged with the NBA in 1976, where he played until 1980.
Sara DeCosta ’00 is a female hockey player who graduated from PC. She graduated as PC’s all-time saves leader with 2,324 saves. DeCosta earned the title of PC Female Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999 and was named an All-American in 1999 and 2000. She played for the U.S. Olympic Team in ’98, where she won a gold medal. In 2000 and 2002, DeCosta was awarded USA Hockey Player of the Year.
John Treacy ’77 placed third in the Boston Marathon in 1988, ten years after graduating from PC. At Providence, he was a five-time All-American. Treacy was the New England Cross Country Champion in 1976, then a World Cross Country Champion in 1978 and 1979. He competed for Ireland in the 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympics, winning a silver medal in the marathon in ’84.
When John Thompson ’64 graduated from Providence, he was drafted to the Boston Celtics that same year. Named the New England Player of the Year and an All-American in ’64, he averaged 19.2 ppg and 13.4 rpg. He won seven Coach of the Year Awards after coaching the Georgetown Hoyas from 1972–1999. Under Thompson, the Hoyas made 24 consecutive NCAA appearances and won one National Championship.