Geno's logical successor | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Geno's logical successor

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Kat said:
Who would want the job? To be compared to a legend? Can't remember who followed John Wooden, Dean Smith, or Pat Summit, but they didn't keep the fire going. Let's enjoy the now--it's never happening again.
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The only reason to hesitate would be if UConn no longer had the resources to be competitive in the current environment. How many coaches have the ability and resources to recruit the kind of roster Geno will leave behind?
 
victor64 said:
The question is, would she be able to continue bringing in said all americans?
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Carla Berube has recruited highly decorated players, including High School All-Americans, during her successful tenure as Princeton women's basketball coach, with players like Abby Meyers and Kaitlyn Chen earning All-American honors after being recruited by her, though specific All-American high school recognition for every player requires deeper roster dives. Berube's recruiting success brings top talent, evident in her multiple Ivy League titles and NCAA Tournament runs, showcasing her ability to develop elite players.
 
ScottCT said:
Our successor is doing great at Vanderbilt right now.
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First of all, that is something we do not have to worry about for at least four years or longer.

I have a personal feeling that Shea Ralph will not want to leave vanderbilt for UConn. She has openly stated that she loves working with her husband, and I believe that would be a problem at Connecticut because of that nepotism law.

I would think that whoever it is would be in a tough situation just because of the old saying, “the man who follows the man……. (of course insert woman if you prefer)

I know people float names like Sue Bird, but she would be taking over the premier women’s basketball program ever without any previous coaching experience. Players don’t always make the best coaches. Carla Berube makes a much more sensible choice.

However, I’m glad this is a decision that will not have to be made for at least several more years. (10, no 20)
 
Cornell Lt said:
Carla Berube has recruited highly decorated players, including High School All-Americans, during her successful tenure as Princeton women's basketball coach, with players like Abby Meyers and Kaitlyn Chen earning All-American honors after being recruited by her, though specific All-American high school recognition for every player requires deeper roster dives. Berube's recruiting success brings top talent, evident in her multiple Ivy League titles and NCAA Tournament runs, showcasing her ability to develop elite players.
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Recruiting to win Ivy league titles is related to NC level (UCONN) recruiting, as Military music is to music.
 
Every organization I’ve worked in has had a succession plan that was reviewed annually. I would think that UConn has something located somewhere covering the head coaches and their assistants.
 
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DemonDeac22 said:
Every organization I’ve worked in has had a succession plan that was reviewed annually. I would think that UConn has something located somewhere covering the head coaches and their assistants.
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That is usually the problem in these situations. Geno had earned the right to name his successor. Also, Geno is unlikely to be the best person to name his successor.
 
Any successor would be more likely to come and more likely to succeed if we are in a better conference by then. Otherwise, I fear Louisiana Tech or Old Dominion irrelevance rather than Tennessee drop off. Since there have been mentions of Sue and Diana who have never coached, what about Renee, or Maya, or someone who has always struck me as coaching material, Kia Nurse? In 10 years.
 
What examples of this do we have in history. Coach K, John Wooden, Coach Calhoun, Pat Summit, Muffet, Tara. Some successors were great and some not so much. How could Gene Bartow or Gary Cunningham get people psyched at UCLA? John Scheyer great. They might win it this year.
I think it’s got to be a name. Take a look at the team picture with last year’s squad with all the alumni after the National Championship game. Says it all.
 
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bigfive said:
Any successor would be more likely to come and more likely to succeed if we are in a better conference by then. Otherwise, I fear Louisiana Tech or Old Dominion irrelevance rather than Tennessee drop off. Since there have been mentions of Sue and Diana who have never coached, what about Renee, or Maya, or someone who has always struck me as coaching material, Kia Nurse? In 10 years.
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Kia certainly has the intensity and work ethic to do the job.....
 
Dogdude said:
Flannery at Creighton.
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Too old. He's 60 now.

Cornell Lt said:
The point that was raised was could Carla recruit HS all-Americans if she was the UConn coach. My answer would be that if she could get HS All-Americans at Princeton she sure as hell could get them at UConn.
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I'm not aware that Carla Berube has ever recruited a high school All-American at DIII Tufts or, since 2019, at DI Princeton.

Bella Alarie and Abby Meyers were both recruited by Courtney Banghart, before Carla. Neither were high school All-Americans.

Kaitlyn Chen was initially recruited by and took her official visit to Princeton under Banghart. Carla convinced Chen to stick with Princeton after Banghart departed to UNC. (See HERE.) Regardless of who recruited her, Chen, ranked #66 in the 2020 high school class, was not a high school All-American.

I'd be interested in knowing what high school All-Americans you claim Carla has ever recruited.

My view is that Geno's successor should be a coach who has demonstrated a consistent ability to recruit players who will be college All-Americans and who has a proven elite won-loss record in high level D1 competition. Shea Ralph will probably meet those criteria when Geno retires, probably in 2028-29. However, I doubt that she would leave a successful program she has resurrected from the dead at a premiere university in one of America's most desirable cities to follow a deity in Storrs.

[Begin fantasy:] Alternatively, I think a UConn alum with no coaching experience but a gravitationally attractive reputation and personality, such as Diana Taurasi or Sue Bird, might be a reasonable risk. (Kara Lawson, with neither, is doing okay at Duke.) How about both Diana and Sue, one being an assistant? Offer them Geno's $4 million a year and change their minds about coaching. Maybe Maya as an assistant, too. I don't think she's rolling in dough. Hire some very experienced D1 coach to be associate head coach, who knows what to do, so the famous names can concentrate on recruiting. [End fantasy]
 
I can see Diana as the next coach.....Because she knows the game and kids all over the country know her .. Hell, didn't she help recruit Maya?

Of course I would love to see Arod as the next Yankee Manager too. (Which will never happen)
 
I'm of 2 minds. On one hand, I'd love continuity and continuing to recruit elite players who are great kids and continue what Geno started.

On the other hand, that is highly improbable. Just look at the mess at Tennessee - after Pat Summit - Holly Warlick, Kellie Harper, Kim Caldwell.

And for all the "Kim is a great recruiter and has them on the right path", If you extrapolate her record right now over the next 6-7 years, it will be NO BETTER than Warlick's.

My point is, Warlick and Harper were both from the Tennessee coaching tree, and followed Pat's lead with a brand of basketball that had passed all of them by. Enter Caldwell - fresh face, new offense and defense, no Tennessee ties. Everyone thought she was a homerun at first, and now many fans complain that her hockey style sub pattern is a recipe for failure, something she refuses to change.

I don't think Shea will come back. Plus she's from NC and Vandy is closer. She's married with children now and raising them in Tennessee. Hard to imagine she'd jump.

Carla - this is a possibility, but if I'm Carla, I look at the disaster at Tennessee with the "Tenn tree" of coaches and say "no thanks". Jamelle and Tonya have already shown they are failures as HC's, and much better as Asst. Coaches. That leaves Morgan Valley. TBH, I think from a continuity perspective, she will likely take over when Geno leaves. There is zero chance she will enjoy the same success he did. I suspect when Geno leaves, so does CD and Jamelle/Tonya. I doubt either of them want to work for Morgan (I could be wrong of course).

I think Morgan takes over and within a few years, has an entirely new group of assistants. She's a terrific recruiter (I'll be honest - when she was hired I was disappointed as she was NOT a flashy hire. I've completely flipped that switch). I'm not sure what level of success will be acceptable to UConn fans.

In Warlick's 7 seasons, she made the elite 8 3 times and the sweet 16 once. Harper never did better than the sweet 16. Caldwell is only in her 2nd season but only made the sweet 16 last year, and told fans her team was "built for the final 4" this season. Brave words as they are currently barely in the top 20. Sure they are 12-3 but could easily end up 18-10 with the meat of the SEC coming up. They are currently a 5 seed but could end up 6 or 7. Would love to see them as an 8 seed and face a 1 seed in round 2.

I did digress a little but, and I'm betting Caldwell will get at least 4 years to prove her stuff. But again, what is acceptable? Tennessee is not even close to the level of UConn - haven't been for years - and sweet 16 is unacceptable for most Tennessee fans. Given that UConn has been to a zillion final 4's in the past whatever years, how much tolerance will we have? If the BY is any indication, very little.

If I'm Morgan, I'd consider the job because she's not Tennessee. She might do better. But she would also be competing against other coaches UConn would be interviewing, and there are some terrific young ones out there. BUT it would need to be lightning in a bottle TWICE for us to get someone who continues with the excellence we've enjoyed, and often taken for granted, over the past 40+ years...

Let's just hope Geno coaches forever.
 
I wonder why no one has brought up Rebecca Lobo? She is a UConn great, she is still involved in WBB and seems very knowlegeable and competent. Right age and disposition. No?
 
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The UConn mystique is wrapped up in the promise, "If you come here you will play for championships." I want the next coach to have proved that they know how to get teams to the finals. If Shea does that, if she is willing to move her family out of one of the most dynamic towns, if she is willing to turn her back on her own legacy, then I would love her as HC. Carla has proven she can get nattys and has also built her own legacy. Either of them would be great for the program. In a perfect world, I would like the next coach to be on campus for a year before taking control. That will provide time to build seamless relationships with current and future players.
 
Charliebball said:
I could be wrong, but when asked, I believe she's said that she's not interested in coaching..........same goes for Taurasi......
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While either could be the "celebrity" draw needed to attract AA's I think both Sue and D are very acclimated to their "retirements" from basketball.

However, what about Swin? Besides an illustrious playing career in college, she earned 2 Olympic gold medals, played 15 years as a pro and won 3 WNBA championships. Her experience definitely qualifies her for a coaching position. The biggest question is would she want it. While her career lately has been in "front office" work she is someone who can maintain the high level of UConn in women's basketball.
 
VaConnFan11 said:
What are your thoughts on either Lindsey Gottlieb at USC or Kim Barnes Arico at Michigan?
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I was about to ask the question - why the obsession with former UConn players? Why not look outside the UConn sphere?

This question brings sanity to this entire succession question.

Gottlied I would say no to. She does not seem to develop all her players.

Barnes-Arico I would support. Her offense and defense is very similar to UConn's. Possible negative is her age. She's 55.
 
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A lot of interesting ideas here! I certainly wish whoever Gino’s successor is, he/she will enjoy much success themself. However, that individual will not be another Gino. After Gino retires, UConn will remain a top WBB contender for many years to come…no matter what.

But it is questionable whether UConn will enjoy the unparalleled success that it has held for so many years. Another individual can captain the ship, but that doesn’t mean the ship will end up docking in the same ports.

We have seen this scenario play out in real time. Tennessee is still searching for another Pat Summitt. Yet they are still considered a top WBB school a decade plus later. Their fickle fans have left, but their true fans are still there supporting their team and waiting for the successes' of old.

Perhaps we will end up following in their footsteps. If so, let us enjoy the success that we’ve had and are still having now, while looking forward to a new coach, team and the successes of the future, however it reveals itself.

Go Gino and go UConn!!!

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There should be a wide net and they should seek consultation from Geno when making the decision. They should not be obsessed with “UConn DNA.” Geno had no UConn DNA. Get the best available coach.
 
Think about the UConn WCBB program as the monarchy, there is NO WAY the program will look outside of the any direct descendent of the program for many reasons:
1. Geno (sorry @JavaMan it's not GINO) will have the biggest say in who succeeds him and he will choose someone he knows the history and traits of what it means to be a "Husky"
2. Even if the program were to somehow deviate from our royal lineage, they will want someone with "proven pedigree" and not those who toiled for years in the mid-echelons of the NCAAT: Gottlieb and Barnes-Arico have never made a final four and you want to give them the keys to the kingdom?
3. Following "the legend" in any sport is incredibly hard and finding the transition person will be even harder. Initially, I had thought Chris Dailey would take over the program for a few years to have a direct link to the "monarchy" but as Geno keeps going into his mid-70's, Chris approaches her late 60's so when he does hang it up, I am inclined to think she does as well. The question then becomes who would want to wear that crown? Shea may well enjoy the world she has carved out in Nashville, especially if she can keep getting elite players and she is in an established conference hotbed for WCBB. Would Carla Berube be interested or will Geno want to reward a loyal underling on his staff? Jamelle is my first thought as she has been with the program so long and has been a HC at D1 for more than a few years (unlike Morgan who was only at Hartford briefly).

All that said, I prefer to "whistle by walking past the graveyard" as I don't want to think about this AT ALL. I just want to enjoy what I have now.
 
Outsiders perspective.

Forget the tree.

No way an AD should consider a former UConn star athlete who has no coaching experience. You want a coach; not a player. I would scream to fire an AD who hired someone with no coaching credentials.

Hiring from the coaching tree has not proven successful in wbb and rarely in mbb 's longer history. Not to say it can't work if the successor is an excellent coach, but a candidate "from the tree" should never be preferred over an outsider with even slightly better coaching credentials.

You hire the best candidate based on their coaching credentials. Is that coach Shea or is it a person like Mark Campbell? Compare EVERYTHING with no "tree bias."
 
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