from Facey commitment: “All indication is that Kevin Ollie may be the new head coach.”

[husky99]

http://blog.ctnews.com/uconnbasketb...s-that-kevin-ollie-may-be-the-new-head-coach/

 

[Kitaman]

Thanks but not much of anything, just that the coach trolls the Boneyard.

 

[Ts5034]

Fine by me.

 

[3rdbass]

Definitely looks like KO will be the next coach and I'm fine with it as at least we have a successor in place and we won't have as much uncertainty moving forward.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Definitely looks like KO will be the next coach and I'm fine with it as at least we have a successor in place and we won't have as much uncertainty moving forward.

Totally agree, of course. My only concern, if there were to be one, is that we really have no idea what kind of game coach Ollie will be. We are all seeing he can recruit the stink off a skunk, and I know he's been in the NBA and has been under JC the past few years, but I wonder how that will translate if/when he takes over...

 

[Huskies4ever]

Totally agree, of course. My only concern, if there were to be one, is that we really have no idea what kind of game coach Ollie will be. We are all seeing he can recruit the stink off a skunk, and I know he's been in the NBA and has been under JC the past few years, but I wonder how that will translate if/when he takes over...

I understand. His recruiting, toughness, and leadership cannot be questioned. Then, he is learning under JC. He doesn't have head coaching experience, but I am not worried at all.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Obviously we're telling the recruits what they want to hear. I wonder if there'll be a mass exodus if Ollie, in fact, is not named head coach when JC hangs it up.

 

[3uconn]

Obviously we're telling the recruits what they want to hear. I wonder if there'll be a mass exodus if Ollie, in fact, is not named head coach when JC hangs it up.

Never thought of that one. Brings up serious possibilities. But I do believe that Ollie will be the next coach.

 

[superjohn]

The writing is on the wall, Ollie will be our next coach. In everything I've ever read and heard about KO, it's damn impressive what people say about the guy, whether it's high school kids, NBA people and fellow coaches, everyone absolutely raves about him. I have no doubt he is going to be a recruiting monster and a great motivator. I don't have much to go on in terms of how he will be x's and o's wise but he's learned from many great coaches and played the point guard position for 13 years so he clearly knows the game. Much of being successful as a college coach is recruiting great players and having them believe in you so much so that they will run through walls for you and I have no doubt Ollie will bring that as coach.

 

[orangehomer]

i'm pretty surprised people on here are so supportive of ollie. he was a good player but not a star, and landing a few recruits is infinitely different than running a program. many of you have questioned the hopkins succession to boeheim at syracuse, but hopkins out recruits virtually anybody. i remember that alot of you were critical when hopkins was named coach-in-waiting, but now you seem to want the same thing, only with a much less experienced guy. i don't get it.

 

[Dann]

i'm pretty surprised people on here are so supportive of ollie. he was a good player but not a star, and landing a few recruits is infinitely different than running a program. many of you have questioned the hopkins succession to boeheim at syracuse, but hopkins out recruits virtually anybody. i remember that alot of you were critical when hopkins was named coach-in-waiting, but now you seem to want the same thing, only with a much less experienced guy. i don't get it.

hopkins is acc garbage.

 

[Dann]

and for all those who realize that he can recruit but think he may be a x and o guy let me tell u what the result is. texas, ohio st, pitt etc...those schools win a ton but not the big boy games like a uconn/unc has lately. if thats the worse that can come from KO at this point from what ppl are complaining about. then sign me up for the next 30 years under him. when u recruit and win alot, eventually one recruit one year will be such a monster that u can't lose no matter how bad u think the x and o 's are. just look at syracuse.

 

[mauconnfan]

i'm pretty surprised people on here are so supportive of ollie. he was a good player but not a star, and landing a few recruits is infinitely different than running a program. many of you have questioned the hopkins succession to boeheim at syracuse, but hopkins out recruits virtually anybody. i remember that alot of you were critical when hopkins was named coach-in-waiting, but now you seem to want the same thing, only with a much less experienced guy. i don't get it.

Help us understand what it means when you say "Hopkins out recruits virtually everyone.."???? I don't get it.......do you mean he gets more Top 50-100 talent? If so congrats........but if you mean he gets the talent the program requires to win 3 NC's in the last 13 years then I'm guessing you're wrong.......You keep the McD AA's and Top 30 guys and we'll keep our 3 NC's and I'll stick to our guys who recruit guys who fit the program in order to win the trophy how's that homer?

 

[Kitaman]

Ollie has NBA pedigree with multiple NBA team experience coaches. Its the one time that a journeyman can use this to his advantage. A pg absolutely knows Xs and Os, as he is the one to implement coaching strategies. As for college coaching, Blaney and Calhoun (as mentors) have decades of experience in the game. I am not saying that he won't struggle (of course he will) but our program needs a shot in the arm, and who better than an alumni with his background. His spirituality will also help prevent any lapses of player judgement off the court.

It's not so much the recruiting but his character, class, confidence, perseverance, background and respect. Any school can build a foundation with those qualities in a coach, all you need is good players. Our school already has the foundation and good players, Ollie will simply add to the foundation, which I believe he is capable of. Realistically speaking, what big time coach would quickly want to follow the legendary Calhoun (especially if he remains active behind the scene)?

The bottom line for me is that he is worth a shot, and young enough to recover if he fails.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

i'm pretty surprised people on here are so supportive of ollie. he was a good player but not a star, and landing a few recruits is infinitely different than running a program. many of you have questioned the hopkins succession to boeheim at syracuse, but hopkins out recruits virtually anybody. i remember that alot of you were critical when hopkins was named coach-in-waiting, but now you seem to want the same thing, only with a much less experienced guy. i don't get it.

Ollie is becoming the face of the program more and more by the day. He's the main guy on every recruit, he runs the offseason workouts, and he's extremely hands-on in practice. We have absolutely no idea if he'll be a good game coach strategically (it will help if Hobbs and Miller stay on board since they have over 20 years of head coaching experience between them), but I'm starting to become more and more comfortable that he can handle the other aspects of running a program.

No, he wasn't a star, but the guy played in the NBA for 14 years. Every recruit mentions Kevin Ollie when they are asked about Uconn. He played for Jim Calhoun (and with Ray Allen) in college, and played with everyone from Iverson to Lebron to Kevin Durant in the NBA. I'm sure he drops those names every time he talks to a recruit.

It's unfair to give Ollie too much credit for the Drummond, Boatright, Daniels class since we had so much momentum from the National Championship, but getting Omar Calhoun and Phil Nolan in a year where we're facing a postseason ban (plus all the typical questions about Calhoun) is extremely impressive. Kentan Facey and whoever else we sign for 2013 won't be coming to Uconn to play for Jim Calhoun, they're coming to play for Ollie.

 

[Wolferowski]

Help us understand what it means when you say "Hopkins out recruits virtually everyone.."???? I don't get it.......do you mean he gets more Top 50-100 talent? If so congrats........but if you mean he gets the talent the program requires to win 3 NC's in the last 13 years then I'm guessing you're wrong.......You keep the McD AA's and Top 30 guys and we'll keep our 3 NC's and I'll stick to our guys who recruit guys who fit the program in order to win the trophy how's that homer?

I think he's referring to landing studs and high character guys like Devendorf.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Obviously we're telling the recruits what they want to hear. I wonder if there'll be a mass exodus if Ollie, in fact, is not named head coach when JC hangs it up.

or what if theyve said he will be there when calhoun leaves, head coach or assistant and that JC will still be around the program for the following years

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Ollie has NBA pedigree with multiple NBA team experience coaches. Its the one time that a journeyman can use this to his advantage. A pg absolutely knows Xs and Os, as he is the one to implement coaching strategies. As for college coaching, Blaney and Calhoun (as mentors) have decades of experience in the game. I am not saying that he won't struggle (of course he will) but our program needs a shot in the arm, and who better than an alumni with his background. His spirituality will also help prevent any lapses of player judgement off the court.

It's not so much the recruiting but his character, class, confidence, perseverance, background and respect. Any school can build a foundation with those qualities in a coach, all you need is good players. Our school already has the foundation and good players, Ollie will simply add to the foundation, which I believe he is capable of. Realistically speaking, what big time coach would quickly want to follow the legendary Calhoun (especially if he remains active behind the scene)?

The bottom line for me is that he is worth a shot, and young enough to recover if he fails.

"A pg absolutely knows Xs and Os, as he is the one to implement coaching strategies."

You mean kinda like Hall of Fame PG and 2 time World Champion Isiah Thomas with a college coaching record of 26-65? Maybe UConn can hire "Zeke" as 1 of the assistants then we will have 2 PG's on the coaching staff! wooooo hooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[alexd]

I didn't realize that being "a star as a college player and not just a good player" was a requirement for becoming a head coach. But I guess Michael Hopkins' career 6 ppg average while playing for the Orange and no NBA experience, is considered "star" type numbers up in Syracuse...

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Any recruits Ollie gets now he gets total credit for. Him and Suzie! While Jim is MIA and "Evel Knieveling" I'm sure Ollie is busting his . He will have to be a prime time recruiter to make up for his lack of experience. Let's see what happens with the 2013 class. If its a big 1 let's give him a shot!

 

[caw]

I think he's referring to landing studs and high character guys like Devendorf.

He's just misunderstood. Good soul really.

 

[caw]

Obviously we're telling the recruits what they want to hear. I wonder if there'll be a mass exodus if Ollie, in fact, is not named head coach when JC hangs it up.

Probably would depend on who was hired and if Ollie stayed on as an assistant.

 

[freescooter]

I understand. His recruiting, toughness, and leadership cannot be questioned. Then, he is learning under JC. He doesn't have head coaching experience, but I am not worried at all.

Then you don't give a sh@t about the program, or you're nuts.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Then you don't give a sh@t about the program, or you're nuts.

I may be nuts, but I give a "sh@t" about the program and support KO.