Cooley earned his first head coaching position in 2006 for Fairfield University of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference . In five seasons , Cooley 's teams posted a 92 – 69 overall record and 58 – 32 conference record . In 2009 – 10 , with a 23 – 11 record , Fairfield advanced to postseason play , setting an NCAA Division I postseason record by overcoming a 27-point halftime deficit to win in overtime over George Mason in the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament . The Stags were defeated in the quarterfinals of the tournament by Creighton . In 2010 – 11 , Cooley 's Fairfield squad captured the MAAC regular season championship before falling in the semifinals of the 2011 MAAC Men 's Basketball Tournament . They were defeated by Kent State in the second round of the 2011 NIT , finishing with a school-record 25 – 8 record . Cooley was named MAAC Men 's Basketball Coach of the Year and was the USBWA District 1 Coach of the Year
2011 MAAC Men 's Basketball Tournament
2011 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament
Ed Cooley