PROVIDENCE – About 30 teams of individuals spent some time July 23-26 shooting hoops and playing pick-up games at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in a unique opportunity to play on the same floor as the Providence College men’s basketball team.
In the process, the event helped raise significant funds to support name, image and likeness opportunities the college’s athletes.
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PC Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Napolillo recently told Providence Business News that the inaugural “AMP Experience,” operated by the Friar Family Collective, raised more than $50,000 over the four-day affair. The event allowed the public to play some basketball at the state’s largest arena downtown within certain timeslots.
“The experience that the kids and adults had was a home run,” Napolillo said. “I’m grateful to the folks at the AMP working with us on that. That was a new one that people really enjoyed. We couldn’t be happier with the turnout.”
Napolillo also said PC plans to look at additional revenue streams for its athletic programs. When asked if another setting could host a PC athletic “experience,” Napolillo said the college regularly reviews on what programs work best and “where it could help us support our student athletes.”
Also, PC’s athletic offerings will increase next fall. Napolillo in a YouTube video formally announced Aug. 7 that varsity men’s and women’s golf will return to PC at the start of the 2025-26 academic year.
The men’s golf program at PC was first formed in 1932 and after a 26-year lull returned in 1960. The second run of the men’s program ran until 2002 due to Title IX reform, PC says.
The women’s program, meanwhile, will launch for the first time in PC history. Like the majority of PC’s sports programs, both golf teams will play in the Big East Conference.
With golf now being added, PC’s athletic department will now offer 21 varsity athletic teams – 12 women’s programs and nine men’s programs.
Napolillo in his announcement that he spoke with parents and students who wanted to attend PC but play golf at the Division I level. “That day is here today,” Napolillo said.
PC says it is now searching nationally for the programs’ two head coaches. While it did not specifically say which courses it will play, PC said the golf teams will practice and compete “at the most premier courses in Rhode Island.”
To support the programs, PC also began a restricted fund named after the late former PC men’s golf coach Joe Prisco, who led the Friars to 403 wins over 43 seasons and died in 2020 at the age of 101.
“Bringing golf back to our institution is something we’re all excited about,” Napolillo said. “We look forward to great days ahead.”
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.
