Why is the providence university men's basketball coach missing hair out of his head

While Cooley has not reported publicly on the matter, Mike Waters of the Syracuse Post-Standard reported in 2012 that Providence College basketball coach Ed Cooley has a skin condition that has caused the non-spreading hair loss on his head. Waters remarked that the condition goes back to when Cooley was as assistant coach at Boston College (1997-2006) but no comment on the exact cause.

Many across the internet report it to be most likely alopecia areata or vitiligo (the same condition that Michael Jackson had) but again, no official comment from Cooley is found. Vitiligo is an automimmune disorder that causes the loss of brown pigment and results in white patches on the skin. It can also cause premature hair loss and white or gray hair. The condition is more noticeable in people with dark skin.

Cooley is head coach of the Providence College Friars men's basketball team. He previously coached for Fairfield University.

Of interest, Providence head coach Ed Cooley was recently named one of 15 finalists for the 2014 Jim Phelan Award. The honor is bestowed annually to the nation’s top Division I men’s basketball coach. Find out the other finalists from the Providence Journal.