Anne Donovan resigns [merged thread] | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Anne Donovan resigns [merged thread]

Status
Not open for further replies.
Icebear said:
See, I knew I could improve how you felt about Coach JPM. Things can always be worse.
Expand ...

Ice, just paid attention to your signature line - nice! OBTW possible snow in parts of Montana tonight; shall I ship some out!
 
I saw two suggestions for a replacement for Donovan, Jen Rizzotti and Sue Bird. No doubt that Rizzotti would be an exciting choice but you have to wonder if she would have any interest. Is she waiting for Geno's retirement and would she be first in line or would Shea Ralph. Sue Bird would be immensely popular but doesn't she have another year or two on the floor in Seattle?
 
mr006 said:
giphy.gif
Expand ...
 
.-.
billnaples said:
I saw two suggestions for a replacement for Donovan, Jen Rizzotti and Sue Bird. No doubt that Rizzotti would be an exciting choice but you have to wonder if she would have any interest. Is she waiting for Geno's retirement and would she be first in line or would Shea Ralph. Sue Bird would be immensely popular but doesn't she have another year or two on the floor in Seattle?
Expand ...
Sue would never come here. She's made it clear on several occasions that Connecticut is too rural for her. When asked about coaching UConn she said something along the lines of that she couldn't because Storrs isn't metropolitan enough for her. A bit disappointing, because we could have her as head coach and Diana as associate head coach.
 
mr006 said:
What, 10 wins to 15 wins isn't an improvement? :eek:;)
Expand ...

You're splitting hairs mr006. Let me "rephrase" that.........There was no significant "sustained" improvement during her tenure. :p It appears that happy times are here again in Uncasville. It would appear that Sun management decided to wipe the slate clean and go back to square one.

You know that whenever there's a break down of that magnitude, and you have to "dismantle" the machine, there will always be casualties. AD was one of those casualties. If one person can turn the Chicago Cubs culture around in one season, why can't the Sun? I know there is someone out there that can do it. The question is who, and can the Sun find and hire them.

There's nowhere for them to go but up. It's time to get creative in Uncasville. Start thinking outside of the box. They've got to turn this thing around, and quick, or they'll begin to lose more of their fan base which isn't that big to begin with.
 
Last edited:
UConnCat said:
Mike DiMauro, who has written at length about the Sun and supported Donovan staying on as coach, weighs in: http://www.theday.com/article/20151001/SPORT01/151009884

And so Anne Donovan has left us, three years later now, pretty much the same way she arrived. We didn’t know her then. We don’t know her now. It’s the way she wanted it. And what ultimately led to the circumstances that prompted her resignation Thursday as coach of the Connecticut Sun.

It was her sense of detachment — perhaps unwittingly at times — from everything that didn’t involve Xs and Os that followed her like a storm cloud. She just didn’t want to be engaged. There was no letting anybody in. Not fans, media, or even her players.

I spent much of Thursday talking to people who play — and have played — for Donovan. None wanted to be quoted for the record because they like her and don’t want to be cruel. But there was unanimity in the idea that she wasn’t very interested in communicating anything else to her players that didn’t involve a basketball drill.
Expand ...

I dare say that if they asked the same about Coach T, they'd get a different answer... of course, anything is better than nothing...
and in a state where we get a LOT of info on our college team (players and coaches), that's not gonna fly well.
Of course, winning can also take care of that - ask Bill Belichick
 
HoopsFan21 said:
Sue would never come here. She's made it clear on several occasions that Connecticut is too rural for her. When asked about coaching UConn she said something along the lines of that she couldn't because Storrs isn't metropolitan enough for her. A bit disappointing, because we could have her as head coach and Diana as associate head coach.
Expand ...
Sure am glad she came and stayed four years gave us the joy of watching one of our all time greats. Jen on the other hand is anchored in the area already, is currently coaching at a Div.1 school, has stature in the UConn family, etc. Only question is how any Geno years are left.
 
.-.
billnaples said:
Sure am glad she came and stayed four years gave us the joy of watching one of our all time greats. Jen on the other hand is anchored in the area already, is currently coaching at a Div.1 school, has stature in the UConn family, etc. Only question is how any Geno years are left.
Expand ...
Jen isn't winning conference titles, getting into the Big Dance or sign highly ranked recruits. Locals aren't even going to UHart they're going to Maryland, Syracuse and even Providence.
Jen did have a good run about 5-8 yrs ago...
 
I don't see Rizzotti leaving Hartford. She has a family to support and my guess is that her position there is fairly secure. Not so as a head coach in the W.

I also doubt that she would be offered the job.
 
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.[/QUOTE]

Kelly Farris told me that Donovan's practices were EASY. She said something to the effect of "I like a workout when I practice". Course, Kelly was used to Geno's practices which often contains a version of the "Kobiyashi Maru"!
 
vtcwbuff said:
I don't see Rizzotti leaving Hartford. She has a family to support and my guess is that her position there is fairly secure. Not so as a head coach in the W.

I also doubt that she would be offered the job.
Expand ...

According to the Guru Mel Greenberg they chased the Rizz last time. I'm sure they'll ask again and I'm equally sure she'll say no.
 
Goodgood said:
I think the new coach will be Sue Bird!
Expand ...

If they were to name Sue head coach I would be shocked and dismayed. Not a lick of coaching experience that I am aware of... it would be a clear case of pandering.

Listen carefully... BECKY HAMMON!!!
 
.-.
Arne Duncan the Secretary of Education is also stepping down. What a glorious week!!!
 
psconn said:
If they were to name Sue head coach I would be shocked and dismayed. Not a lick of coaching experience that I am aware of... it would be a clear case of pandering.

Listen carefully... BECKY HAMMON!!!
Expand ...
No argument that a pitch at Sue should and would be pandering. But that would never be a surprise to many
 
Hiring Gail "deer in the headlights" Goestenkors would be a mistake, IMHO! Retreads aren't what the CT Sun need now, they need a younger, dynamic type of personality, innovative, coach that can be there for the long run!
See my post above for some names!
 
vtcwbuff said:
I don't see Rizzotti leaving Hartford. She has a family to support and my guess is that her position there is fairly secure. Not so as a head coach in the W.

I also doubt that she would be offered the job.
Expand ...
I'm not sure Jen would have to leave Hartford to coach in WNBA. Remember Dawn Staley coached at Temple & played in WNBA at same time for a couple seasons I believe.
 
This hire was a disaster from the beginning. When it became clear that AD and Tina Charles couldn't coexist, they should have canned Donovan. Retread coaches are a dime-a-dozen, franchise players are rare.
 
.-.
They should give Carla a look. She's done quite well for herself while building a successful program at Tufts. Yes, I know is only D3, but she's shown she can get the best out of her players.
 
RSHERMVIKES said:
Hiring Gail "deer in the headlights" Goestenkors
Expand ...

Nicknames are apparently hard to change. Amazing how one's perception over 12 years old does not match the on-the-court record or what actually transpired since 2003...
 
CocoHusky said:
I'm not sure Jen would have to leave Hartford to coach in WNBA. Remember Dawn Staley coached at Temple & played in WNBA at same time for a couple seasons I believe.
Expand ...

How much do WNBA head coaches make anyway? I imagine a upper tier college coach would take a huge pay cut to leave to take a WNBA job.
 
CamrnCrz1974 said:
Nicknames are apparently hard to change. Amazing how one's perception over 12 years old does not match the on-the-court record or what actually transpired since 2003...
Expand ...
I say that often (on this board) about former players that didnt play for UConn... its amazing
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
167,962
Messages
4,546,902
Members
10,428
Latest member
CarloPFF


Top Bottom