Anne Donovan resigns [merged thread]

[ThisJustIn]

I'm expecting the Sun to fade into further oblivion, likely leaving Connecticut.

 

[triaddukefan]

I'm expecting the Sun to fade into further oblivion, likely leaving Connecticut.

I know of a perfect place for them to relocate.

#charlottesunsting2018

#buzzcitywnbaversion

 

[psconn]

Assuming all public statements have been sincere, I will assume this was a legit resignation. Sun management was making non-subtle statements about bringing AD back to see what she could do with a team not devastated by injury. The resignation also fits with the primary reason I was unhappy she was hired in the first place... she has a track record of not staying with a program and putting down roots. Mike T was "permanent". He had a residence in the area and was part of the community outside the casino.

I think AD got a really bad hand dealt to her at the Sun (pun intended)... she came into a team in absolute turmoil over the Coach T firing and did not/could not make it better. Then the truly remarkable series of injuries began. Now, just when the clouds seemed to be breaking and good times seemed at least possible again, she moves on. Hopefully this is the last page of a very sad chapter in Sun history.

Time to move forward with a pretty good core of players and try to rebuild a winner. We have much improved and potentially elite center in All-Star Kelsey Bone, an All-Star forward and rebounding machine in Chiney, and two All-Star guards in Alex and Allison (if she can stay healthy). Throw some combination of Alyssa Thomas (PLEASE develop a mid-range game), Camille Little, Liz Williams, Jasmine Thomas and Kayla Pedersen in the rotation... not bad. Kelly Faris, Jen Lacey, Chelsea Gray (I hope you're working out right now), maybe Kelsey Griffin, Tiffany Mitchell (probably)... more good players than roster spots as usual.

And so we begin... Chapter 4, The Resurgence....

 

[psconn]

She probably would turn it down, but I would offer Becky Hammon the moon and stars to be the next head coach of the Sun. (See what I did there?)

 

[j66kicker]

A strong coach can create a winning culture very quickly - I hope they don't settle

 

[Kevin G]

Christmas did come early!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sonofabeach]

I know she's not Uconn but I would like to see Katie Smith Coach the Suns she is a assistant on NY liberty now.

 

[Icebear]

I know of a perfect place for them to relocate.

#charlottesunsting2018

#buzzcitywnbaversion

I hear she is the new head coach at Duke!

 

[RadyLady]

I'm expecting the Sun to fade into further oblivion, likely leaving Connecticut.

really? With such a big fan base?

 

[msf22b]

I hear she is the new head coach at Duke!

North Carolina is gonna need a coach soon.

 

[triaddukefan]

I hear she is the new head coach at Duke!

I'd rather have Coach McCallie

Now thats something you dont hear often

 

[ctkaiser]

I was sorry to see Anne go. I was hoping that at some point during the upcoming season I would finally figure out what the hell she was running on offense. This team was one of the worst 3 pt shooting teams in the league but it seemed like that was their fallback strategy when everything else failed. When Chiney played she was always setting outside screens but there was no pick and roll. She was almost never posting up. Chiney was an All Amercan due to her post up play and strong rebounding. Anne had her outside. Some see talent to build on with this team but unfortunately I don't see that much. Bone, Bently and Chiney are a solid core. Beyond that everybody else is inconsistent. Alyssa Thomas is a huge disappointment. What happened on the trip between College Park and Mohegan? Gray is a talented PG but it looks like it's hard for her to move well on the court possibly due to her knee still not being 100% and conditioning (knee not allowing her to fully work out?). She's an awesome talent. Hopefully management makes a good decision on a coach that can have an impact on player selection and strategy. Pivotal time in this team's development.

 

[UConnCat]

Altavilla's story: http://www.courant.com/sports/baske...nectocut-sun-resigns-1002-20151001-story.html

"I can't say that I am surprised by [Donovan's decision]," said Chris Sienko, the Sun's vice president and general manager. "No, I am not."

Speculation has been that the Sun may not have been willing to offer Donovan the kind of contract she wanted in order to remain. Sienko said Thursday the team had not made Donovan a formal contract offer before Thursday's decision. But it also appeared she was not happy about something as this season wound down.

The search for her replacement certainly will include many former and current college coaches and WNBA assistants. Donovan's two assistants, Steve Key and Jen Gillom, are former WNBA coaches. Jim Petersen, the longtime assistant of the Minnesota Lynx, which begin play in the WNBA Finals on Sunday, is considered a coach in the making, as is Indiana assistant Gail Goestenkors, the former coach of Duke and Texas. New York assistant Katie Smith is also considered someone who will make a great coach someday.

 

[EricLA]

really? With such a big fan base?

I couldn't find the 2015 numbers, but for 2014, the Sun were 3rd from the bottom ahead of only Atlanta and Tulsa in average attendance. Phx was first averaging over 9,500 people per game, and the Sun were just under 6,000. Not a huge difference between the top and bottom but... the team who have good attendance also have good teams.

In the Sun's case, they've gotten rid of a popular coach, drove former UCONN grads to other teams, and have sunk to the bottom of the league in just about every category. A new coach won't solve what ails them, but look at how popular NYL were this year with a whole host of former UCONN players on their roster.

 

[UcMiami]

eric - doesn't help when your biggest star is out for the season either in terms of attendance. If they hadn't crashed and burned after the first month, they might have had significantly better attendance.

Whiel I am not a big watcher of the W, there was something that I did not care for with Donovan, and her track record of moving from job to job at least recently is not good - not something I would as an employer want to hitch my franchise to.

Someone wrote a while back that Donovan's practices were too long and rigorous for modern 'twelve month a year' players and might be contributing to their breakdowns - no idea if that is true.

 

[ctkaiser]

I couldn't find the 2015 numbers, but for 2014, the Sun were 3rd from the bottom ahead of only Atlanta and Tulsa in average attendance. Phx was first averaging over 9,500 people per game, and the Sun were just under 6,000. Not a huge difference between the top and bottom but... the team who have good attendance also have good teams.

In the Sun's case, they've gotten rid of a popular coach, drove former UCONN grads to other teams, and have sunk to the bottom of the league in just about every category. A new coach won't solve what ails them, but look at how popular NYL were this year with a whole host of former UCONN players on their roster.

They obviously need a new coach but does Chris Sienko have the real GM skills, knowledge and ability to rebuild this team. Bill Laimbeer was able to target the players he wanted to put the NYL together through the draft, free agents and trades. Can Sienko do that? The CT Sun avg attendance for this season was 5557 third worst in the league down 7.1% from previous year per Sports Business Daily. I was surprised. I did not realize they were that far down. Only Tulsa and San Antonio were behind them.

 

[mr006]

Altavilla's story: http://www.courant.com/sports/baske...nectocut-sun-resigns-1002-20151001-story.html
...as is Indiana assistant Gail Goestenkors, the former coach of Duke and Texas....

I won't say much about the possible coaches - a lot of interesting names mentioned - and you can never be sure who could be The One for a situation, but not so sure that Gail would put us over the top either (although back in the playoffs would be a nice start).

 

[mr006]

They obviously need a new coach but does Chris Sienko have the real GM skills, knowledge and ability to rebuild this team. Bill Laimbeer was able to target the players he wanted to put the NYL together through the draft, free agents and trades. Can Sienko do that? The CT Sun avg attendance for this season was 5557 third worst in the league down 7.1% from previous year per Sports Business Daily. I was surprised. I did not realize they were that far down. Only Tulsa and San Antonio were behind them.

Sienko certainly did well enough with Coach T - just couldn't get the big prize. No matter how much credit one could give Coach T, Sienko has to be a big part of it. So can he rebuild? I would think so. What the next coach does with it is the question.

 

[mr006]

 

[ctkaiser]

I always thought Coach T was let go because along with his coaching he had input on personnel so he paid the price because his players didn't get it done. I think The Fever have a good setup with Stephanie White as the HC with Gail Gostenkors as the bench coach.

 

[ctkaiser]

I think this guy has the energy level that Anne didn't have!

 

[Carnac]

The team was not showing any improvement the last few years. Management had to something. We all know the definition of "insanity"
That's what The Sun was doing. A new coach that can change the culture of the program much like the present Chicago Cubs manager did this year, is what the doctor ordered. It can be done. Getting the right coach for right now is key. Drafting a roster of players that can compete on a nightly basis is job 1. That's easier said than done. Leadership starts at the top.

 

[ctkaiser]

Just realize that Cubs manager Joe Maddon came into a great situation with a good amount of talent and arguably the best minor league talent in baseball. Outside of maybe 5 solid players and a high draft pick not sure what else the Sun have. You're right though a good choice for HC is hue here.

 

[billnaples]

North Carolina is gonna need a coach soon.

If the NCAA does what it should do NC hoop and maybe sports in general will exist for several years as an intramural team. Of course they have been dragging their collective feet for years and find it much more important to sanction SMU for things a coach who is gone did five years ago on a one time basis.

 

[triaddukefan]

Lets keep the UNC/NCAA bashing outta this thread... this thread is for Donovan and Ct Sun Bashing