by Christian Cintron '28 & Annie Martino '29 on October 1, 2026
Congress Updates
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Student Congress was pleased to welcome Bryan Hodgson, head coach of the Providence Friars men’s basketball team, and Steve Napolillo ’98, the director of athletics at Providence College. Hodgson expressed that he was offered positions at five different institutions, but was inspired to come to Providence after seeing the excitement of Friar Athletics and the intimacy of our campus, along with being swayed by his fiancée, Jordan Norris. He enjoyed the fact that student athletes and other students are one here, noting that he didn’t encounter this relationship in his time at the University of Alabama. Hodgson stated his desire to “commit to you that we will put a product on the floor that you can be proud of,” along with establishing “a national brand that competes against anyone and everyone in the country.”
Hodgson was asked about the eligibility of certain prospective team members following the NCAA implementing a rule that athletes are allowed a fifth year of eligibility for the upcoming school year. Hodgson revealed that Joseph Pinion and Derek Simpson are both applying for a fifth year of eligibility, along with Dink Pate, whose eligibility is in question due to his Exhibit 10 contract with the NBA G League. Hodgson expressed frustration, as many athletes with his same qualifications were permitted to play at the collegiate level nationwide. Hodgson shared that Pate is fighting for his eligibility to play at Providence.
Hodgson is excited for the prospects of success in the Big East Conference after high achievement in the Southeastern Conference. He voiced his belief that the conference as a whole is challenged this year to establish a bigger presence as a brand in collegiate basketball, wanting the Big East to be seen as “America’s basketball conference.” He described the passion of Friar athletics fans as “unbelievable” compared to his time as head coach at the University of South Florida, where students had to be begged to attend games despite the tickets being free. He conveyed that the tremendous energy should be present at all games, not only the big ones, to the point where anyone who doesn’t have a ticket to a game should have “FOMO.”
Hodgson claimed that he has assembled a team of athletes who “care more about winning and the bigger picture than immediate gratification,” emphasizing success in the future and relationships built at Providence. He does not bother with athletes who wish to discuss finances first, claiming that there is not a single athlete on the roster whose highest paying offer was PC. The Friars men’s basketball team is a team of people who care about winning.
Student Congress was delighted to welcome the elected members of the Class of 2030. Upcoming events sponsored by Student Congress include Advocate Avenue on Oct. 14, Providence Smiles on Oct. 21, Core Crunch on Oct. 22, and the Committee on Outreach’s annual Pumpkinfest on Nov. 1. Congress also passed SCA 77–03, a proposed amendment to the Constitution that will now require members to attend three events promoting awareness, understanding, or appreciation of diversity per year. New pieces of legislation introduced include
SCA 77–04 and SCA 77–05, which will establish the Executive President and Executive Vice President’s Cabinet, and SCA 77–06, which proposes the dissolution of the Subcommittee on Philanthropy.
Student Congress looks forward to a productive remainder of the semester and an establishment completed by new members from the Class of 2030!