Could Manuel find himself in a recruiting battle over Ollie next spring if he decides to keep him?

[husky91]

Umm, who cares, then go get Shaka or Pastner if they are available.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I think that there is a lot of mind-reading going on here and elsewhere. I doubt anyone who thinks they know what Manuel is thinking has a clue. He could mean just what he has said. Strange concept, I know. Maybe not, but it is very easy to make assumptions about a situation like this. There is a very good reason why Manuel would want Ollie to succeed and a reason why he would hesitate to dismiss him--the ongoing support of UConn's basketball alumni, especially the NBA alumni. Conspiracy theories are much more juicy and fun, however.

 

[upstater]

Every time one of you Ollie-nazis post something like this, a puppy is killed.

Seriously, you know what Ollie hates? People posting crap like this. If recruits, players or the media read it, a divide is created that only serves to undermine what he is doing and his chances for sucess.

You honestly are giving Boneyarders more influence here than say Leonard Hamilton? You honestly think Hamilton didn't point out the obvious?

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I'm not sold on UConn being enough of an allure by itself to get a name coach with any kind of proven record, and I'm as big a homer as anyone. I've seen too many coaching searches go completely off the rails for schools with bigger national reputations.

UConn has never been a school that pays like a blueblood. Are they gonna start now all of a sudden? Further, the lion's share (if not all) of "winning" cache is the result of one guy. Fair or not, that matters to prospective candidates. Ollie may not have the experience of whomever the replacement would be, but he does help maintain a connection to that successful recent history, and the support that goes with it.

It may be unorthodox to have the successor of a legend have absolutely no gametime head coaching experience, but that's not the whole story. Ollie does have a support structure and a group of powerful allies that no outside coach has a chance of matching.

 

[CAHUSKY]

UConn has never been a school that pays like a blueblood. Are they gonna start now all of a sudden? .

Yes they have. JC made 2.7 mil last year and was the 9th highest paid coach in the country. Thats plenty to attract almost anyone.



http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/spor...03-28/ncaa-coaches-salary-database/53827374/1

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Yes they have. JC made 2.7 mil last year and was the 9th highest paid coach in the country. Thats plenty to attract almost anyone.



http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/spor...03-28/ncaa-coaches-salary-database/53827374/1

He may have been top ten in salary last year, but for the vast majority of his career he was barely top twenty. He was one of the most underpaid coaches in any sport, dollars to success level, of all time.

Makes the "not a dime back" statement that much funnier.

 

[CTBasketball]

Seriously, you know what Ollie hates? People posting crap like this.

Not true. If Ollie cares (even a tiny bit) about what a bunch of people post on the Boneyard Forums, then he isn't mentally tough enough to coach a high school team.

I think Calhoun force their hand for this season. I think their are a lot of guys more proven then Ollie who would be interested in the job. I think ppl sell the allure of UConn short.

Why is everyone so set on Ollie being the coach past this year. Unless he gets a great recruiting class I rather see us go in a different direction.

Calhoun forced Ollie in there. 100% agree. Manuel had no other candidate to hire. And yes, there are a bunch of guys more proven.

I think everyone is excited to have a former player (who we all loved) to come coach. But once again, I agree 100% with you. He needs to win in the Big East this year and have a stellar recruiting class. So ipso facto, he NEEDS Vonleh or XRM to keep his job. He swung and missed with Parker, and now we're losing XRM. It's not about how good of a guy you are, its about how you coach. He hasn't proved anything yet, so these circumstances are realistic.

And don't think I hate Ollie. I love KO. I want him to succeed here. I'm just stating the facts. In the end of the day, its a business. If he can't get the job done, then we need another coach. One individual person is NOT bigger than the program. UConn basketball will move on just fine with, or without KO.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Only way he does is if UConn low balls him thinking that he won't go anywhere and another program comes along with a big offer. But I doubt that happens even if he coaches well this year. And even if it does I think KO gives UConn every opportunity to make an offer that is good enough.

He doesn't want to be anywhere else but here. Remember, he could be an assistant working his way up in the NBA a la Jacque Vaughan.

 

[Huskies4ever]

I think Calhoun force their hand for this season. I think their are a lot of guys more proven then Ollie who would be interested in the job. I think ppl sell the allure of UConn short.[/quote

I think you are selling KO short. We need to stay within the program. How many former alums do you expect to come back with someone outside the program? Not to mention KO has done a great job recruiting. What do you expect in one year?

 

[Kitaman]

This team needs to start practicing and soon. "November, Hurry Up!!!!!"..................................... but take your time.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Yes they have. JC made 2.7 mil last year and was the 9th highest paid coach in the country. Thats plenty to attract almost anyone.



http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/spor...03-28/ncaa-coaches-salary-database/53827374/1

Well, he was vastly underpaid compared to those ahead of him. Don't you think he should be in the top three?

 

[CAHUSKY]

Well, he was vastly underpaid compared to those ahead of him. Don't you think he should be in the top three?

That wasn't the question. The question was does UCONN pay as well as other top programs. Clearly they do.

 

[The Funster]

I think Calhoun force their hand for this season. I think their are a lot of guys more proven then Ollie who would be interested in the job. I think ppl sell the allure of UConn short.

I think Calhoun forced their hand but that does not mean I don't think Ollie can succeed. If he shows that he can succeed, I think Manuel will lock him up. If Ollie doesn't show signs then I guess he'll be considered along with some other candidates.

 

[Deadrody]

KO's contract will be extended long before the expiration date arrives (unless WM has already decided to replace him once this season in over).

THIS.

I completely agree. The only reason KO has a 1 year deal is because he has never been a head coach at any level. Good lord. You would be an idiot to give someone with zero experience a long term contract. That said, as soon as KO demonstrates his ability as a coach on the floor, he'll get an extension. I seriously doubt this stretches through to the spring.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Agreed. The bottom line, which many people seem unable to comprehend, is that the decision has been made. It is what it is and NO amount of bitching and complaining will change it. All that this negativity potentially accomplishes is to create a negative perception of the program for any media member, team members or recruits that might happen to read it.

Wait until Ollie succeeds and then start chattering positive support for an extension...POSITIVE!!! Enough with the complaining about the AD. At least wait until one of his decisions is proven to be bad for the program. Right now, all anyone can do is speculate how this will all turn out. It is a waste of energy and counterproductive.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Agreed. The bottom line, which many people seem unable to comprehend, is that the decision has been made. It is what it is and NO amount of bitching and complaining will change it. All that this negativity potentially accomplishes is to create a negative perception of the program for any media member, team members or recruits that might happen to read it.

I doubt the whims of this place have any substantive effect on anything anywhere ever, but I otherwise agree.

 

[8893]

Agreed. The bottom line, which many people seem unable to comprehend, is that the decision has been made. It is what it is and NO amount of bitching and complaining will change it. All that this negativity potentially accomplishes is to create a negative perception of the program for any media member, team members or recruits that might happen to read it.

Wait until Ollie succeeds and then start chattering positive support for an extension...POSITIVE!!! Enough with the complaining about the AD. At least wait until one of his decisions is proven to be bad for the program. Right now, all anyone can do is speculate how this will all turn out. It is a waste of energy and counterproductive.

People comprehend that the decision has been made. Commenting on the negative impact of that decision does not mean that we expect the decision to change; it is simply discussion of something that affects our basketball program on a daily basis, and will continue to as long as the status quo exists. I mean, look at the Amore article about Hobbs posted in the other thread:

As he rides to players now, Hobbs has the task of selling players on Ollie and the school, even though Jim Calhoun's successor is signed only through next April.

No amount of shouting down those who discuss it here is going to change the negative perception that already exists; it is still going to be written about elsewhere every day as long as the head coach position remains vacant. Pretending that it doesn't or shouldn't matter is not going to fool anyone, least of all recruits, who are generally quite interested to know who their coach is going to be.

 

[upstater]

Agreed. The bottom line, which many people seem unable to comprehend, is that the decision has been made. It is what it is and NO amount of bitching and complaining will change it. All that this negativity potentially accomplishes is to create a negative perception of the program for any media member, team members or recruits that might happen to read it.

Wait until Ollie succeeds and then start chattering positive support for an extension...POSITIVE!!! Enough with the complaining about the AD. At least wait until one of his decisions is proven to be bad for the program. Right now, all anyone can do is speculate how this will all turn out. It is a waste of energy and counterproductive.

I can't believe you think these posts are a problem, as though opposing recruiters won't point the obvious out to recruits. Really?

 

[HuskyHawk]

People comprehend that the decision has been made. Commenting on the negative impact of that decision does not mean that we expect the decision to change; it is simply discussion of something that affects our basketball program on a daily basis, and will continue to as long as the status quo exists. I mean, look at the Amore article about Hobbs posted in the other thread:



No amount of shouting down those who discuss it here is going to change the negative perception that already exists; it is still going to be written about elsewhere every day as long as the head coach position remains vacant. Pretending that it doesn't or shouldn't matter is not going to fool anyone, least of all recruits, who are generally quite interested to know who their coach is going to be.

What load. There is no negative perception and nobody is writing about it except you guys. Unless you think having news of an unexpected late home visit for Mr. Ollie in the house of the #1 recruit in the country is "negative".

This whole thread is among the most insane in recent memory. Kevin Ollie, a man who is vastly underqualified for the position he now holds, and who wouldn't have gotten so much as a sniff from the likes of U Hartford, let alone outside of Connecticut, where nobody has ever even heard of the guy, is suddently such a hot commodity that UConn will lose him? Please. There's not another major program that would have given him even this one year deal. If he hadn't been a UConn player...would you want him? If he was a little known scrappy PG who played at Michigan State, had a long but undistinguinshed career as an NBA backup and was a second level assistant for Izzo for three years? He'd be at the top you your list? Really?

I think there's a good chance that Calhoun is right, that KO is the real deal and that we will have made a great transition from the legend. If so, we'll see it within a few months and he'll be extended. But there is certainly a chance he will not be the answer, and we'll see that too. We won' extend him and he won't get any other offers either, except maybe as an assistant in the NBA.

 

[8893]

What load. There is no negative perception and nobody is writing about it except you guys. Unless you think having news of an unexpected late home visit for Mr. Ollie in the house of the #1 recruit in the country is "negative".

This whole thread is among the most insane in recent memory. Kevin Ollie, a man who is vastly underqualified for the position he now holds, and who wouldn't have gotten so much as a sniff from the likes of U Hartford, let alone outside of Connecticut, where nobody has ever even heard of the guy, is suddently such a hot commodity that UConn will lose him? Please. There's not another major program that would have given him even this one year deal. If he hadn't been a UConn player...would you want him? If he was a little known scrappy PG who played at Michigan State, had a long but undistinguinshed career as an NBA backup and was a second level assistant for Izzo for three years? He'd be at the top you your list? Really?

I think there's a good chance that Calhoun is right, that KO is the real deal and that we will have made a great transition from the legend. If so, we'll see it within a few months and he'll be extended. But there is certainly a chance he will not be the answer, and we'll see that too. We won' extend him and he won't get any other offers either, except maybe as an assistant in the NBA.

Wow, talk about a load of crap. Bury your head and cover your ass much?

If you don't think that potential recruits perceive the vacancy in the head coach position negatively, I don't know what to tell you. As but one example, what do you make of the passing mention by Amore in yesterday's article:

"As he rides to players now, Hobbs has the task of selling players on Ollie and the school, even though Jim Calhoun's successor is signed only through next April."

Do you think that the italicized part is viewed as a positive by anyone other than you? That's why he used "even though" as the lead in, right?

Gimme a freakin' break.

 

[dapriest]

I've read this thread most closely, and I think that a critical point of discussion has been completely overlooked.

And that is - nevermind who the purported, hypothetical successor to Ollie will be in April, which conference he derives from, or what challenges will face him; the question is - what about the putative replacement hypothetical coach for THAT purported, hypothetical successor to Kevin Ollie? How will that putative replacement handle what the purported, hypothetical successor to Kevin Ollie did to the program?

It's not that I mind meaningless musings being mulled about on a message board, after all, because that's what it's for, really.

But there's a difference between meaningless but based in reason and on real information, and interesting and, what we have here in this thread, which is meaningless and torturously spawned from the far fetched fiction of feckless fans.

Jesus. Show some respect and support. Let the man coach a game or two before discussing his replacement.

 

[upstater]

Wow, talk about a load of crap. Bury your head and cover your ass much?

If you don't think that potential recruits perceive the vacancy in the head coach position negatively, I don't know what to tell you. As but one example, what do you make of the passing mention by Amore in yesterday's article:

"As he rides to players now, Hobbs has the task of selling players on Ollie and the school, even though Jim Calhoun's successor is signed only through next April."

Do you think that the italicized part is viewed as a positive by anyone other than you? That's why he used "even though" as the lead in, right?

Gimme a freakin' break.

It's crazy. I think these guys are out to lunch. Recruiting is a tough game. Apparently, Ollie's contract is a well kept secret. Opposing coaches are too polite to bring something like that up. Now you know the caliber of the posters you're dealing with. Laughable.

 

[8893]

I'm not engaging in discussing potential replacements for KO. I agree that that is premature at best; misguided and potentially destructive at worst.

But for anyone on this board to suggest that discussion of how the instability in the head coaching position is perceived and how it may be affecting recruiting is somehow improper seems pretty hypocritical to me. This is the same board on which countless posters have for years urged Jim Calhoun--a man who was still under contract for future years--to reaffirm repeatedly his intention to remain here, lest the perceived instability negatively affect recruits. Now he has retired and we have a new head coach who does not have a contract beyond this season. Can someone please explain to me how the uncertainty about JC staying on as head coach was bad for recruiting, but the uncertainty whether KO will be allowed to remain head coach beyond this season is not? Especially when the recruits we have heard about so far have cited KO as one of the primary reasons--if not the primary reason--why they are (or have been) considering us?

 

[Huskymaniac]

I can't believe you think these posts are a problem, as though opposing recruiters won't point the obvious out to recruits. Really?

I'm aware of what the opposing coaches are saying to recruits. But can this endless negative crap bbeing psoted here help? It can only hurt, right? Maybe you think it won't but it is clear that the only affect it can possibly have is a negative one. We know players read this board. We know members of the media read this board. Do you really think it is impossible that recruits ever read it? If a current player reads this stuff or a current recruit does, do you think it will make them feel better about the program or worse, assuming it has any impact at all? If it had no impact, great. But if it has ANY impact at all, it won't be a positive one. And since bitching about the fact that people don't agree with the decisions won't actually change the decisions, where is the benefit to doing it? No upside, MAYBE some downside. Seems clear. People need to shut up and wait until they have something to either push for or complain about which could actually benefit the program.

 

[upstater]

I'm aware of what the opposing coaches are saying to recruits. But can this endless negative crap bbeing psoted here help? It can only hurt, right? Maybe you think it won't but it is clear that the only affect it can possibly have is a negative one. We know players read this board. We know members of the media read this board. Do you really think it is impossible that recruits ever read it? If a current player reads this stuff or a current recruit does, do you think it will make them feel better about the program or worse, assuming it has any impact at all? If it had no impact, great. But if it has ANY impact at all, it won't be a positive one. And since bitching about the fact that people don't agree with the decisions won't actually change the decisions, where is the benefit to doing it? No upside, MAYBE some downside. Seems clear. People need to shut up and wait until they have something to either push for or complain about which could actually benefit the program.

Good points. But, Manuel/Herbst need to be reminded they are with the program.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Wow, talk about a load of crap. Bury your head and cover your ass much?

If you don't think that potential recruits perceive the vacancy in the head coach position negatively, I don't know what to tell you. As but one example, what do you make of the passing mention by Amore in yesterday's article:

"As he rides to players now, Hobbs has the task of selling players on Ollie and the school, even though Jim Calhoun's successor is signed only through next April."

Do you think that the italicized part is viewed as a positive by anyone other than you? That's why he used "even though" as the lead in, right?

Gimme a freakin' break.

Suddenly Amore is all knowing? He's been savaged here endlessly. There is no vacancy. Kevin Ollie is the coach. Period. It is no different than rumors of JCs imminent retirement or health problems.

I'm sure the recruits know this simple fact. They won't replace him with somebody worse. If they don't see somebody obviously better he'll be back. There is no downside.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Good points. But, Manuel/Herbst need to be reminded they are with the program.

Again, I think that is speculation. But if one thought there was a benefit to telling them this, one should call them or email them directly. It still won't change anything in the short term so one would have to weigh what they believe to be the long term benefits against the potential negatives. What is clear to me is that a public airing of something like this has no potential positives and lots of potential negatives. A one on one discussion with them has less potential negatives and maybe some potential positives. It is a better way to handle it.

If his decisions turn out to have disasterous outcomes and I think he was negligent, I will be one of the loudest to call for his head. I have spoken with the liason to the board of directors about issues I had with past ADs and I would do it again. Right now, I don't see a reason to do so. I see a lot of people disagreeing on what exactly should have been done. That tells me this was a complex situation with lots of uncertainty. Who was right will be known soon enough. We will thrive no matter what happens.

 

[upstater]

Again, I think that is speculation. But if one thought there was a benefit to telling them this, one should call them or email them directly. It still won't change anything in the short term so one would have to weigh what they believe to be the long term benefits against the potential negatives. What is clear to me is that a public airing of something like this has no potential positives and lots of potential negatives. A one on one discussion with them has less potential negatives and maybe some potential positives. It is a better way to handle it.

If his decisions turn out to have disasterous outcomes and I think he was negligent, I will be one of the loudest to call for his head. I have spoken with the liason to the board of directors about issues I had with past ADs and I would do it again. Right now, I don't see a reason to do so. I see a lot of people disagreeing on what exactly should have been done. That tells me this was a complex situation with lots of uncertainty. Who was right will be known soon enough. We will thrive no matter what happens.

I just don't see any acknowledgement at all for the most basic of points.

One of the first people who didn't like the Ollie hire was positively shocked at what he described as the interim status he was given.

Again, I disagree with you that this is a discussion in which some people will eventually be proven right/wrong. The only point some are making is that given the small salary, it's a relatively small commitment to have extended him. Subtracting this year's salary from a 3 year extension, UConn would be out $600k if it fired him in early March. Or, they could have even put a buyout clause in there. Anything to improve the optics. Many anti-Ollie people even agreed with this.

So, in response to your last few sentences, the point many are making is totally irrelevant to what will happen in the future. It's more about what is happening right now.

 

[8893]

Suddenly Amore is all knowing? He's been savaged here endlessly. There is no vacancy. Kevin Ollie is the coach. Period. It is no different than rumors of JCs imminent retirement or health problems.

I'm sure the recruits know this simple fact. They won't replace him with somebody worse. If they don't see somebody obviously better he'll be back. There is no downside.

I'm beginning to see the genius in this plan. Maybe if we don't mention the post-season ban people won't notice that we're not, you know, playing this post-season.

And, come to think of it, your sentiment would make the perfect marketing pitch to any potential recruit: Come to UConn, where you can play for Kevin Ollie--or somebody obviously better!

Sheesh. Can't believe I didn't see that angle before. I mean, it's not like these kids really care who their coach is going to be, right? Kevin is their coach, period. Well, except for the fact that he's not. I'm sure that's easily lost on them. Especially the ones who've said they want to play for him.

Thanks for setting me straight. If only there was a Facebook-like way for me to pay extra to have your posts displayed most prominently every time I log on. I would gladly pony up for faster and more efficient access to your wisdom and insights.

 

[jleves]

And to think we're all fans of the same team - could you imagine the carnage if we weren't all aligned?