ESPN: UConn's Ollie listening, not looking to leave

[socal613ws]

Why is he listening if he has no intentions of leaving?

 

[uchusky32]

Please! When you get in a position to have options why don't you instead just bury your head in the sand.

He will stop listening when people stop talking.

 

[7774]

Why is he listening if he has no intentions of leaving?

Because he's an adult and this is the real world?

 

[sportsart]

Your post is so important that it couldn't be in any of the other 13 threads? Really?

 

[husky99]

Gggrrr another one. Guess it was needed. Been almost 14 minutes

 

[tcf15]

Might as well point this out:

"We are talking and hopefully we can get together once all this quiets down," he said. "Have a nice talk and hopefully get everything situated."
​

So there's your reason as to why it's taking long- craziness of the postseason after winning a championship. Same is said here by Amore:

Manuel said that the time it has taken to complete the negotiations should not be interpreted as a problem. It's a function of both he and Ollie traveling much of the spring, for recruiting and other engagements. Herbst has been monitoring progress.​

 

[huskypantz]

Herbst has been monitoring progress.

Great, the last time we were monitoring we got outmaneuvered by a community college for a spot in the ACC.

 

[8893]

Great, the last time we were monitoring we got outmaneuvered by a community college for a spot in the ACC.

Gotta say I haven't been the least bit worried until seeing a clip on the news last night with a few sound bites from both KO and Manuel while they were at the AAC tourney logo unveiling event. KO seemed to be saying the right things as usual--leaving himself just enough wiggle room--but Manuel did not inspire confidence that he can get a deal done. The most telling moment was when Manuel said that they have had "great talks," and was then asked if they are close on a deal. He paused uncomfortably, and then awkwardly repeated "great talks," clearly rejecting the notion that they are anywhere close on a deal. It was a split second, but he looked annoyed and nervous, yet arrogant at the same time. It made me queasy.

Not looking to continue the dumping on Manuel, but if he screws the pooch on this I think he'll be the next one out the door.

Interesting article in today's Register:

http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20140516/jim-calhoun-says-kevin-ollie-not-leaving-uconn

 

[husky91]

Don't say "we." That was Manuel and Suzy.

Great, the last time we were monitoring we got outmaneuvered by a community college for a spot in the ACC.

 

[David 76]

1) I really believe KO is staying
2) There is only so much WM can do if KO did choose to leave. I think WM was on this since the Final Four.

 

[JayRU09]

Ollie's decision to leave or stay will say a lot about where people view UCONN in the scheme of things.

Hope he stays.

 

[8893]

1) I really believe KO is staying
2) There is only so much WM can do if KO did choose to leave. I think WM was on this since the Final Four.

I agree with # 1, but I really wonder about #2. I get the sense that, like the ACC situation, Manuel is also taking the "only so much I can do" approach here too, and that troubles me. His job in both situations is to make everyone concerned believe he that he is doing everything he can do to close the deal. I don't like his arrogance down the stretch in either instance. I didn't bode well then, and I was disappointed and concerned to see that same attitude from him in the sound bites I saw from him last night.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Ollie's decision to leave or stay will say a lot about where people view UCONN in the scheme of things.

Hope he stays.

Not sure this is true, but if he does leave, the ensuing coaching search will say a lot about the desirability of UConn in the coaching community (and, by extension, our national perception).

If we lure an established P5 guy or a highly-touted up-and-comer, that'll go a long way towards telling recruits that we're a major program regardless of conference affiliation.

On the other hand, if we struggle to assemble a bunch of C-list candidates, that will indicate that the community consensus is that UConn isn't a destination job.

In a way, by foregoing a national search last time and picking one of our own, we forestalled this judgment.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

The " he's never leaving, stop being paranoid" camp has p1ssed me off from the start of this with their cavalier attitude towards everyone who has been concerned about his future here.

Unless we get into a P5 league, at some point an NBA team is just going to blow him away with a huge deal. Hell, never count the Knicks out for doing something crazy this off-season.

If he wasn't interested at all, he'd come out, say it and do the deal with UConn as opposed to the hold up about the buyout and these bs quotes. I'm sure all the expert business negotiators will say different - but UConn, KO and Warde know dam well the situation at hand so please spare me that angle.

 

[8893]

The " he's never leaving, stop being paranoid" camp has p1ssed me off from the start of this with their cavalier attitude towards everyone who has been concerned about his future here.

Unless we get into a P5 league, at some point an NBA team is just going to blow him away with a huge deal. Hell, never count the Knicks out for doing something crazy this off-season.

If he wasn't interested at all, he'd come out, say it and do the deal with UConn as opposed to the hold up about the buyout and these bs quotes. I'm sure all the expert business negotiators will say different - but UConn, KO and Warde know dam well the situation at hand so please spare me that angle.

The only thing I've been cavalier about is that KO wants to stay here, at least for the near and medium term. I don't discount the school's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, as we've shown a stunning ability there, too.

The cavalier attitude that is annoying me is Manuel's. He acts like he has leverage when he doesn't, and it makes it hard to believe him. I still think his power play with KO's interim contract was about his own ego and insecurity, and I thought it interesting that the excuse he used--waiting to see the players' grades--was misplaced because that was at least as much his job as KO's, as the AD is also responsible for making sure that the players and program have the support they need to remain eligible.

I find it even more interesting that KO now seems to be bargaining for guaranties from the University about the support it will provide for his and its student-athletes and the program. Putting together Herbst's statements about being nervous about the KO contract as a fan, and about the complexity of the contract documents; KO's statements about his concern for the support of the program going forward; and the leaks from the AD's office that the buyout is a hold-up (as well as Manuel's poorly-disguised discomfort), it seems that it may be about more than money. I think it's possible that KO wants escape clauses if the University doesn't do what he thinks should be its part to help him and the program succeed. That would certainly be an interesting way to go about negotiating the buy-out. If KO is going to invest for the long term here, he should at least get commitments that it is going to remain a place where he can continue to compete for National Championships and graduate his student-athletes.

 

[cohenzone]

The only thing I've been cavalier about is that KO wants to stay here, at least for the near and medium term. I don't discount the school's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, as we've shown a stunning ability there, too.

The cavalier attitude that is annoying me is Manuel's. He acts like he has leverage when he doesn't, and it makes it hard to believe him. I still think his power play with KO's interim contract was about his own ego and insecurity, and I thought it interesting that the excuse he used--waiting to see the players' grades--was misplaced because that was at least as much his job as KO's, as the AD is also responsible for making sure that the players and program have the support they need to remain eligible. I find it even more interesting that KO now seems to be bargaining for guaranties from the University about the support it will provide for his and its student-athletes and the program. Putting together Herbst's statements about being nervous about the KO contract as a fan, and about the complexity of the contract documents; KO's statements about his concern for the support of the program going forward; and the leaks from the AD's office that the buyout is a hold-up (as well as Manuel's poorly-disguised discomfort), it seems that it may be about more than money. I think it's possible that KO wants escape clauses if the University doesn't do what he thinks should be its part to help him and the program succeed. That would certainly be an interesting way to go about negotiating the buy-out. If KO is going to invest for the long term here, he should at least get commitments that it is going to remain a place where he can continue to compete for National Championships and graduate his student-athletes.

Ollie is not being offered chump change to be at UConn. From outward appearances - meaning absence of conclusive behavior - coach seems more like 7 toes in. It's one thing to negotiate a better contract. It's quite another to get into a bidding war. Look askance at Manuel all you want, but count me as one who will persist in thinking JC boxed him in when the status of our program was entitled to a national search before settling on the (now) obviously capable KO. Before any NBA speculation started, Manuel publicly said on the day of the parade he was going to renegotiate the contract . If he'd offered a permanent contract at a fair value from the get go, and KO had flopped in any reasonably defined way, it would have been very bad for the program at this point in time given the ban and the realignment. Now KO seems to be in a power position with his "dream" job and is taking advantage. Certainly his prerogative in the world of business, but it sure doesn't help our team all that much in the conference situation as to recruits. The future of my favorite program is way ahead of KO's needs in my druthers in this case, which makes this un enjoyable to watch because KO seems like the guy for the job. .

If JC's guy is using possible big money from the pros as a bargaining chip, his success for the program might become a double-edged sword. If he bolts now, or doesn't totally dismiss the stories, recruits that have committed but not signed for next year and the year after may just keep hedging their bets. I would in their shoes, knowing that they committed to KO, not to UConn. If he actually leaves now or in the near future, I'm not convinced that JC's slick move to have KO anointed will have done the program any good, despite the NC. The athletic department needs as much stability as possible right now. The football program is hanging by a thread of hope that the new coach can get the program to be a winner. If he can't and if KO treats his job as a negotiating tool, it doesn't help. I think he'll stay, but this needs to be resolved soon and the ball is not totally in Manuel's court because push come to shove, the university is unlikely to be able to match dollars with a pro franchise willing to up the ante.

 

[David 76]

I think he will stay. His words indicate that. His actions (still recruiting) do too. And, unlike other coaches, I believe his words matter. But behind that I have huge fears about what would happen "if".
Maybe some people brush it off because they don't want to think about the alternative.

 

[8893]

The future of my favorite program is way ahead of KO's needs in my druthers in this case, which makes this un enjoyable to watch because KO seems like the guy for the job. .

Enjoyable or not, right now UConn needs KO a lot more than KO needs UConn.

I love all the "how much is enough" and "it's not chump change" comments. It's not any of our money or any of our futures on the line. I believe KO is looking out for the future of the program, just as I believe JC was. I think Manuel is still looking out for his ego.

 

[superjohn]

Enjoyable or not, right now UConn needs KO a lot more than KO needs UConn.

I love all the "how much is enough" and "it's not chump change" comments. It's not any of our money or any of our futures on the line. I believe KO is looking out for the future of the program, just as I believe JC was. I think Manuel is still looking out for his ego.

"Manuel is still looking out for his ego," this is really stupid.

 

[Dooley]

Stop with the Manuel bashing. If a NBA team offers KO $5M/yr, UCONN simply CAN'T match that. They don't have the revenue stream to pay any coach $5M/yr. Not with the money already tied into Geno's deal and the contracts given to Diaco and the football coaching staff. I think UCONN's max offer will fall around the $3M/yr range with incentives. If there's a NBA team out there willing to pay the buy out AND pay KO $5M/yr, then he's going to leave and there is absolutely nothing that Warde can do about it. Just about the only thing he can do is make the transition smooth enough that if there is a day that UCONN and KO can reunite, that the coach's office seat remains warm for him. Warde isn't worried about his ego, he's worried about finding the money to pay the man (and rightfully so).

 

[cohenzone]

Enjoyable or not, right now UConn needs KO a lot more than KO needs UConn.

I love all the "how much is enough" and "it's not chump change" comments. It's not any of our money or any of our futures on the line. I believe KO is looking out for the future of the program, just as I believe JC was. I think Manuel is still looking out for his ego.

Ridiculous. Manuel has much more at stake than KO does regarding the future of the program. He's the one with ten toes in. Warde is not a problem in this case.

 

[rip7774]

I think KO is staying but the longer Warde drags his feet, the more the cracked door opens.

I don't think Manuel is a visionary at all. I think he is Tim cook at Apple. Paper pusher not a leader. I don't think we could overstate what losing Ollie would mean.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I really doubt Manuel is trying to play hardball at all.

KO is UConn. We need him right now more than ever.

A part of me almost thinks Ollie hopes he doesn't get an offer he can't refuse and is forced to make a decision.

My take is this: Jim Calhoun and his legacy will extend well beyond the time he has left on this earth ( hopefully a long long time). He's a legend and will forever be in Connecticut.

" Heroes get remembered, legends never die."

Not to be overly dramatic but KO could be an immortal here. I don't think that can be taken lightly.

 

[8893]

"Manuel is still looking out for his ego," this is really stupid.

Thanks. I'll bet you thought he was really waiting to see the first semester grades last season too.

Ridiculous. Manuel has much more at stake than KO does regarding the future of the program. He's the one with ten toes in. Warde is not a problem in this case.

Right, because Manuel has such a long history with the program and has demonstrated that he is competent at his job.

Oh, wait. That's the other guy.

I think KO is staying but the longer Warde drags his feet, the more the cracked door opens.

I don't think Manuel is a visionary at all. I think he is Tim cook at Apple. Paper pusher not a leader. I don't think we could overstate what losing Ollie would mean.

Bingo. Someone gets it.

 

[8893]

I really doubt Manuel is trying to play hardball at all.

KO is UConn. We need him right now more than ever.

A part of me almost thinks Ollie hopes he doesn't get an offer he can't refuse and is forced to make a decision.

My take is this: Jim Calhoun and his legacy will extend well beyond the time he has left on this earth ( hopefully a long long time). He's a legend and will forever be in Connecticut.

" Heroes get remembered, legends never die."

Not to be overly dramatic but KO could be an immortal here. I don't think that can be taken lightly.

I agree with everything here; I don't think Manuel is playing hardball either. I just don't think he knows how to close a deal.