Amore: Crumbling Connecticut Foundation? Kevin Ollie Under Scrutiny With UConn Men

[imno1]

"I have had a lot of visits with [Ollie] over the last month and a half. I have met with all the student-athletes that are coming back, as well as the ones that are departing — not just because of graduation — and from all of those meetings and the time spent just evaluating things, I feel very good about the leadership and feel good about the direction we're going.

------------------------------

seems like a lot of people may have missed this quote from our AD

The old "Vote of Confidence"

 

[upstater]

Here's where I'm at. I think Ollie gets at least one-two more years regardless of this article and mess. If these players didn't leave, and he underperformed in 17/18 then that's another story.

But for the entirety of Ollie's career people advised he needed an X's and O's guy on the bench. He had one in Miller and was pretty clear based on the article that he wasn't using that resource, favoring his style of offense. Ollie was viewed as an elite recruiter, helping secure UConn players from 2010 onward.

So now he fires the one guy on the bench that The Almighty Father Jim Calhoun blesses Miller as "one of the best X's and O's guys I've ever worked with." And hires an unproven game plan coach, but an awesome recruiter.

So is Ollie admitting he needs help recruiting because he knows he struggles coaching non 4/5 star talent? Hence the Chillious hire? A lot of this is dependent on Ollie listening to his peers and not introverting to find answers, as the article suggests.

Ten toes in.

Either the admin and alumni are in with the coach or they're not.

As soon as you start talking about one more year, or whatever, it's over.

As soon as the hot seat starts cooking, it's over.

Recruits are not stupid. They are not going to come here now.

The real question is what to do next.

 

[willie99]

What's is the AD supposed to say? "We have no big men who have ever played a minute of D1 basketball and all of the defections cause me real concern". ???

Of course the AD is going to try to put a positive spin on the situation.

well a lot of people read that article and concluded "Ollie's on the hot seat"

I read that same article and concluded everyone involved is on the same page about making changes

What did that article say that many of us weren't thinking?

need to make changes, check
need players that buy into the system, check
need to be tougher, check

and as always, you need players that want to be here

I'm more convinced then ever the transfers didn't like what Ollie was telling them, let someone else promise them utopia

we're a blue collar program


PS: one thing that surprised me, 700 transfers nationwide, about two per school, a sure sign of the entitled times IMHO

 

[CTBasketball]

Ten toes in.

Either the admin and alumni are in with the coach or they're not.

As soon as you start talking about one more year, or whatever, it's over.

As soon as the hot seat starts cooking, it's over.

Recruits are not stupid. They are not going to come here now.

The real question is what to do next.

Of course. You can't go public with that.

 

[willie99]

The old "Vote of Confidence"

haha, he would have said something like "Ollie's job is not in jeopardy". Those statements usually don't conclude with something like "I feel good about the direction we're going". I read that as something stronger

Having said that, if we don't improve over the next two years he's on the hot seat. Many of us including myself wanted changes, and he's making changes. With both the coaches and the players

 

[willie99]

Obviously Calhoun loves Miller, but Ollie has to be Ollie, he has to be true to himself. He has to run the systems and style he wants to run. I think a man has to win or lose doing what he believes in, Ollie has to find what works for him.

I would never want to be fired trying to be somebody else.

So I have no problem with any of the changes he's making, including Miller.

 

[ucp990411]

He wants tough players with high basketball IQs? Is he changing his recruiting philosophy? We have not had that type of player in some time. And doesn't everyone want that type of player. I want results not spin.

 

[jibsey]

You can't do anything without a lot of good and experienced players and going into next year we have just 4 of them and one of those was a surprise to most everyone. Heaven help us if injury happens to any one of them.

 

[HuskylnSC]

After watching UConn being brutalized by Cincinnati and other physical clubs, I have wondered where the old toughness has gone.

We never lacked toughness under JC. Do you remember Ricky Moore slapping the court with two hands and daring the Duke point guard to try him. I remember the physically imposing Elton Brand being a whimper in the national championship.

Where has it gone. Where is the Kenna will to win. Where is Khalid jumping on the scorers table in Pitt.

This has not been the UConn I fell in love with so many years ago.

Ricky is here. Donny is here. KO is here. Maybe the can bring it back and maybe they are mellow old men like me

 

[HuskylnSC]

Should be Kemba

 

[Mr. French]

What's is the AD supposed to say? "We have no big men who have ever played a minute of D1 basketball and all of the defections cause me real concern". ???

Of course the AD is going to try to put a positive spin on the situation.

Ummm what?

Just in THIS situation alone, you have people making it clear with their quotes what they're feeling.

So you think this one quote was an isolated incident of lying by our AD in order to make it seem everything is fine?

That's ridiculous for this particular case for many reasons ...

 

[pj]

Ten toes in.

Either the admin and alumni are in with the coach or they're not.

As soon as you start talking about one more year, or whatever, it's over.

As soon as the hot seat starts cooking, it's over.

Recruits are not stupid. They are not going to come here now.

The real question is what to do next.

Es tu, @upstater?

 

[intlzncster]

Fair enough. There is some tension in these parts

No worries. Doing the lord's work over here trying to dissipate it.

 

[8893]

Fair enough. There is some tension in these parts

No worries. Doing the lord's work over here trying to dissipate it.

 

[intlzncster]

Rule number one of message boards is don't call out another poster by name in a thread they haven't posted in.

Unless it's hilarious.

 

[intlzncster]

I love JC for all he did for UConn basketball but remember, he wasn't retiring and elevating KO because he wanted to. He had physical issues that forced him out. JC had some weird comments during the Championship run in 2014 and has gone on the road the last few years. I am not sure he is at total peace watching anyone else coach UConn. It's just how he is wired. So while he will help KO anyway he can, part of it is by not being around much. I don't think the relationship is strained, I just think it is what it is due to JC's competitiveness.

Fact. Spot on.

 

[intlzncster]

The implication there for my role in this scenario is worrying to say the least.

 

[Mazhude]

Or Fight Club.

 

[dennismenace]

well a lot of people read that article and concluded "Ollie's on the hot seat"

I read that same article and concluded everyone involved is on the same page about making changes

What did that article say that many of us weren't thinking?

need to make changes, check
need players that buy into the system, check
need to be tougher, check

and as always, you need players that want to be here

I'm more convinced then ever the transfers didn't like what Ollie was telling them, let someone else promise them utopia

we're a blue collar program


PS: one thing that surprised me, 700 transfers nationwide, about two per school, a sure sign of the entitled times IMHO

Well said. In a nutshell: Blue collar program (that produces professionals) in a sea of entitled recruit prospects. The challenge will be to find the teachable studs in that sea and reel them in. I really feel that this entire exercise has a unitive effect going forward. We've always known who we are (Uconn). We've redefined what we are after and hell bent on getting it. We have the AD, Coach and assistants to make it happen.

 

[ctchamps]

He wants tough players with high basketball IQs? Is he changing his recruiting philosophy? We have not had that type of player in some time. And doesn't everyone want that type of player. I want results not spin.

It's spin if all he's doing is putting out a statement. If he's reflecting on his mistakes and reevaluating his focus with recruits resulting in getting players who fit his system then it's a positive and not spin.

 

[Huskybass]

Ummm what?

Just in THIS situation alone, you have people making it clear with their quotes what they're feeling.

So you think this one quote was an isolated incident of lying by our AD in order to make it seem everything is fine?

That's ridiculous for this particular case for many reasons ...

I don't think the AD was lying at all. The AD needs to publicly support the head coach during a tough period. That said, I am sure he has some concerns given that only 2 healthy players are returning and the recruiting class took a pretty big hit when MAL opted out.

 

[Walker11]

I don't think the AD was lying at all. The AD needs to publicly support the head coach during a tough period. That said, I am sure he has some concerns given that only 2 healthy players are returning and the recruiting class took a pretty big hit when MAL opted out.

He was publicly supportive. He also interviewed every player to figure out what the hell went on. Actions speak louder than words.

 

[rip7774]

but Ollie has to be Ollie, he has to be true to himself. He has to run the systems and style he wants to run. I think a man has to win or lose doing what he believes in, Ollie has to find what works for him.

I would never want to be fired trying to be somebody else.

So I have no problem with any of the changes he's making, including Miller.

that was my take also. KO is going to do it his way and go down fighting his fight.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Consistent with how AD Dave acted with Diaco.

AD didn't like results-

1. Interviews coaches, staff, players.
2. Gets together with coach to ask for improvement plan.
3. Asks coach what resources athletic department can provide.
4. Gives coach resources.
5. Looks for improved results.

In Diaco's case, the AD and Beth Goetz used their Rolodex to get a respected offensive mind to fix offense. Diaco refused the hire

Result? Fired. Org behavior 101. When your boss goes out and finds you resources to improve, you don't have veto power.

As for Ollie, AD said Ollie could get Chillious but Ollie had to make a one for one switch on staff cost wise.

AD has listened to why players left. This is Ollie's program with Ollie's attitude and vision. Ollie now has a S&C coach and another recruiter.

Assess, make changes, improve.

 

[Fishy]

Still amazed that people think UConn has some special requirements for recruits compared to other schools. They don't.

Our former coach turned recruits into UConn players. Our current coach turns them into something less.

It's on him, not the kids. He needs to get better.

 

[David 76]

I wouldn't expect it either (Chillious coming in as #2 or #3 coach and getting $125k). But UConn paid off Diaco and brought in a while slew of top asst coaches.
If Miller was let go instead of Ricky only because UConn didn't want to pay the $200k difference in salary, then thats an incredibly shortsighted move by Benedict. We're talking about the flagship sports program of UConn. One thing that Benedict is proving so far is that he's not someone who's penny wise but pound foolish. I have to believe that he'd have found the $ if that was the only sticking point to keeping Glenn instead of Ricky.

Do you realize how much tax payers are already subsidizing UConn athletics? I think they had to stay roughly on budget.
Football saved a lot in dropping Diaco's salary. I assume that went to the assistant coaches. The one time buy out for Diaco's is hard to swallow. But it is not in an annual budget.
The state was not going to pay it with their deficit.

 

[David 76]

I think if AD Dave heard excuses and defensiveness, instead of corrective actions in the right direction, they would have been very different meetings.
This is where we are. I suggest people get on board or go
away.
This is UConn, no matter what team you think you deserve.
We are in a tough situation.

 

[8893]

Still amazed that people think UConn has some special requirements for recruits compared to other schools. They don't.

Our former coach turned recruits into UConn players. Our current coach turns them into something less.

It's on him, not the kids. He needs to get better.

I don't disagree, but would add that our former coach, while not perfect in this regard, also seemed to be better at judging "fit," which has a lot to do with increasing the odds that your recruits are capable of being turned into "UConn players" in the first place. It's a combination of nature and nurture imo.

 

[CL82]

Still amazed that people think UConn has some special requirements for recruits compared to other schools. They don't.

Our former coach turned recruits into UConn players. Our current coach turns them into something less.

It's on him, not the kids. He needs to get better.

You can be a pretty pessimistic guy by nature, but you seem uncharacteristically negative/hostile toward Ollie. Is there more back story than last season's performance?

 

[Huskybass]

The fact that the AD felt it necessary to interview everyone associated with the basketball program speaks volumes. That sort of thing never happens when things are going well.