Firing KO will be popular with the fans, but not with the former players. The big boosters are close with the former players. The new coach will likely have little to no connection with the glory days of UConn basketball. I believe that is a good thing, because we need a great coach, but there will be an awkward disconnect.
AD David Benedict will play an instrumental role here. He not only has to fire KO, he has to take on all of the anger from the former players. He has to suck up all of the negativity surrounding this team, the potential violations and dismal conference situation. Then, when he is sacrificed and a new AD is hired, that person can be the "healer" of the program. That new AD can be the person that brings JC and the former players back home. Likely that will coincide with the return of winning. He can even put KO in the Huskies of Honor, more healing. Then we win 4 more titles in the next 20 years.