Geno's Successor?

[bluedevil]

Shea is at Vanderbilt to get HC experience then will be headed back to UCONN for the HC position once he and CD retire.. that’s just my 2 cents.. 😬

I hope she has at least 1 winning season.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

I heard that UCONN medical is working hard on cloning tissues and cells... and that they have cloned Geno so he can be his own replacement.

 

[bluedevil]

There's a huge difference between "who would the likely successor be now" and "who will it likely be in 5-10 years when Geno retires".

In 5 years I have no idea. From the UCONN tree, you will have Cardoza, Berube, Ralph, Jeter, Mosely at the very least - all will have at lest 5 years head coaching at that time, with only Jeter at this point in a Div III school. I realize Tonya is a longshot as she's done squadoosh at Temple, but 5 years is a good long time and we will see.

Add to that the other coaches who may have stepped up and be ready for the big leagues who are non-UCONN related coaches. I don't think any of the current assistants (excluding Dailey) would be appropriate.

Then there is the whole issue of "how will it work". Obviously Tennessee was a disaster. Warlick was a tremendous recruiter, but lousy coach. Harper seems to be at least an average coach (maybe slightly above average), but so far has been a crappy recruiter. We will see if Washington makes a difference. But my point is, UCONN can certainly learn from Tennessee's mistakes when the time comes.

So maybe Geno stays on as an HC emeritus like Pat did. Maybe CD takes the reigns for a few years and the HC in waiting becomes the Assoc. HC. Maybe they just hire a newbie right out the gate and Geno just becomes an advisor.

I get that this is a topic lots of people want to discuss since it always gets a ton of traffic, but in a way it's a silly exercise (no insult meant to the OP) because it will be such a long time before Geno retires and TONS can/will happen in the next 5-10 years.

Dawn would be a dreadful choice. There is nothing about her I like except for her recruiting prowess. And by "nothing", I literally mean zero. Blech. I threw up in my mouth a little bit just thinking about that possibility.

Entities rarely learn by other entities mistakes. But I agree with you about Dawn. She sickens me and I pretty much like everyone.

 

[Jibariqua]

I think Coach Staley would be a great choice but I think she is trying to build a program that replaces UCONN at the top, not to just jump when Geno leaves.

If we are just making up impossible scenarios then I think Tim Fudd is the next coach and the deal has already been made.

 

[Monte]

Muffet or Jim Calhhoun

 

[BobbyJ]

Boneyard discussions about potential successors to Geno have focussed upon former Uconn players who have successfully transitioned to coaching. And I wonder: why the emphasis on former Uconn players? The Uconn brand is akin the that of the Steinbrenner Yankees. Geno's successor should be the best coach in WCBB period. In my view, that is Dawn Staley. She has worked with Geno on the national team, she has won a national title, she has the ability to recruit top notch players, and she is 51. She is a graduate of UVA so query whether her loyalty to South Carolina is complete. Sure it would cost - USC compensates Staley very well. But Uconn is the historical Top Dog. When Geno decides to retire, Dawn Staley should be his successor.

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[GG]

If Geno retires, it will be Chris Dailey not Dawn Staley.
If Chris wants to retire it will be one of Geno's assist coaches or one of UConn former players.

I disagree. It will be the most qualified candidate Benedict can find. If that happens to be an alarm, great, but that should not be the main factor.

 

[Blueconn]

Boneyard discussions about potential successors to Geno have focussed upon former Uconn players who have successfully transitioned to coaching. And I wonder: why the emphasis on former Uconn players? The Uconn brand is akin the that of the Steinbrenner Yankees. Geno's successor should be the best coach in WCBB period. In my view, that is Dawn Staley. She has worked with Geno on the national team, she has won a national title, she has the ability to recruit top notch players, and she is 51. She is a graduate of UVA so query whether her loyalty to South Carolina is complete. Sure it would cost - USC compensates Staley very well. But Uconn is the historical Top Dog. When Geno decides to retire, Dawn Staley should be his successor.

Nothing (absolutely nothing) in your careful summary of Dawn’s accomplishments holds water. And, at the risk of sounding offensive, I suggest you don’t really know UConn at all. We practice til we can’t get it wrong and we don’t recruit dopes. We are UConn...pretty sure you’re not.

 

[triaddukefan]

Moot point... no successful SEC coach at a program they built is gonna leave for any other job. South Carolina has SEC money... other conferences simply can't compete with that money that the top programs down there are willing to put out.

 

[Charliebball]

Shea is at Vanderbilt to get HC experience then will be headed back to UCONN for the HC position once he and CD retire.. that’s just my 2 cents.. 😬

could be but she'll have to do more than just get Vanderbilt back to respectability...........If she can turn that team into a consistent winner, I'd say the job could very well be her's for the taking..........

 

[uconnfan68]

You’re just dancing around the issue of who the successor will give minutes to.

 

[Gus Mahler]

could be but she'll have to do more than just get Vanderbilt back to respectability...........If she can turn that team into a consistent winner, I'd say the job could very well be her's for the taking..........

But note that prior to Balcomb's last two years, Vanderbilt was a consistent winner for about 30.

 

[EricSD]

I disagree. It will be the most qualified candidate Benedict can find. If that happens to be an alarm, great, but that should not be the main factor.

That would be totally shocking (or alarming)!!! LOL

 

[CTBballfan243]

Boneyard discussions about potential successors to Geno have focussed upon former Uconn players who have successfully transitioned to coaching. And I wonder: why the emphasis on former Uconn players? The Uconn brand is akin the that of the Steinbrenner Yankees. Geno's successor should be the best coach in WCBB period. In my view, that is Dawn Staley. She has worked with Geno on the national team, she has won a national title, she has the ability to recruit top notch players, and she is 51. She is a graduate of UVA so query whether her loyalty to South Carolina is complete. Sure it would cost - USC compensates Staley very well. But Uconn is the historical Top Dog. When Geno decides to retire, Dawn Staley should be his successor.

Gonna be be tough to get a top notch coach to follow Geno. It’s a lose lose proposition. Especially since UConn is not in a power conference. I suspect after Geno, UConn goes the way of Old Dominion and La Tech.

 

[Charliebball]

But note that prior to Balcomb's last two years, Vanderbilt was a consistent winner for about 30.

true but reestablishing a winning tradition and winning consistently over 4-5 years is not going to be easy in that conference ...........she's going to have lot's of offers if she can accomplish that feat.......

 

[huskyblooz]

I HATE the off-season!

 

[pvdoggy]

could be but she'll have to do more than just get Vanderbilt back to respectability...........If she can turn that team into a consistent winner, I'd say the job could very well be her's for the taking..........

If I was Shea and I can turn Vandy back into a consistent winner and compete in the SEC, I would not leave Vandy to go back to Uconn.

 

[bluedevil]

If I was Shea and I can turn Vandy back into a consistent winner and compete in the SEC, I would not leave Vandy to go back to Uconn.

What and miss all those cool snow storms?

 

[Charliebball]

If I was Shea and I can turn Vandy back into a consistent winner and compete in the SEC, I would not leave Vandy to go back to Uconn.

I think she would out of a sense of responsibility and pride........unless she had to take a pay cut..........

 

[Dogstar]

Shea is at Vanderbilt to get HC experience then will be headed back to UCONN for the HC position once he and

Shea is at Vanderbilt to get HC experience then will be headed back to UCONN for the HC position once he and CD retire.. that’s just my 2 cents.. 😬

Ahhh...finally someone sees the big picture, make tht 4 cents.
I approve this message

 

[Stymie]

Nothing (absolutely nothing) in your careful summary of Dawn’s accomplishments holds water. And, at the risk of sounding offensive, I suggest you don’t really know UConn at all. We practice til we can’t get it wrong and we don’t recruit dopes. We are UConn...pretty sure you’re not.

OUCH.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Granted the obvious point someone made that Dawn would have no reason to leave South Carolina. None. And granted that her style would alienate many UConn fans. CVS continues to alienate Rutgers fans from the Grentz era and it has been 25 years. It doesn't change the fact that Dawn is indeed a very good coach. She's no Geno - but then, who is?

But the truth is, as many have said, it is just too early. When the time comes, I'll watch with interest. It is going to depend, I would think, on how much input to the decision Geno has; how important his legacy (and his coaching tree) is to the folks making the decision and who (at that point) has given an indication that they might be successful at the job. Thankfully as a non-UConn fan, I won't be invested to live and die with every suggestion.

You all note the "too early" rankings for the next year, this would be a 'too early" thread at this point.

 

[Majic Hands]

Rarely has Geno gone outside of the "family" for an assistant coach. With all of the former players still in the game (coaching/broadcasting/playing), It would be sad if UConn had to go outside to find a qualified and able successor. I think it's way too early to be thinking about Geno's successor. He just indicated this past season that he's not even contemplating retirement at this time. Perhaps 7-10 years, when Geno is ready to retire, there will be more than enough qualified coaches with UConn a pedigree waiting in the wings to replace him. Then, we can seriously think about his successor. When he leaves, players will come to UConn to play for his successor, not his legacy, or the university.

UConn will never the the same after he and CD leave. Whoever succeeds him will have a GIANT shadow over their shoulder and the program for several years, similar to the one endured by the UCLA men's team when "Gene Bartow" succeeded the legendary Naismith Hall of Fame coach John Wooden in 1975. The expectations were too much for Bartow, he only lasted 2 seasons. He left after UCLA lost to "unranked" Idaho State by a point in the Sweet Sixteen. Whoever takes over had better win 30+ games a year and go deep into the tournament, or face constant undaunting scrutiny and ire from fans and the media. UConn Nation is spoiled, and will except nothing less than a real and sustained run at the national championship every year. Losing will not be tolerated!

Elite players/recruits are now willing to go to LSU because Kim Mulkey is there, not because it's LSU. If Geno left for another school, recruits would still want to play FOR HIM!! Not to be rude, this is a liberal forum, post what you will, but we've got what may be Geno's best team since the 2001 coming in.

The last thing I want to think about right now is Geno not coaching this team. That day will come. We'll deal with it when it does. Now and this summer I want to contemplate on our team individually and collectively. Geno has got a juggernaut coming in. I want to spend the summer swimming in the cool relaxing pool of unbridled optimism. I really believe THIS team has a real legitimate chance of raising the national championship trophy the next two years. I think THIS is the year UConn goes back to being "real bad" for WCBB.

Amen!!!!

 

[Dokey]

Speculation is fun, I guess, but I would guess Geno will coach until 70 at the earliest. I always assumed that Shea was being groomed to take over when that day comes. But what do I know? About as much as anyone else. Zip.

 

[cbraarj]

Boneyard discussions about potential successors to Geno have focussed upon former Uconn players who have successfully transitioned to coaching. And I wonder: why the emphasis on former Uconn players? The Uconn brand is akin the that of the Steinbrenner Yankees. Geno's successor should be the best coach in WCBB period. In my view, that is Dawn Staley. She has worked with Geno on the national team, she has won a national title, she has the ability to recruit top notch players, and she is 51. She is a graduate of UVA so query whether her loyalty to South Carolina is complete. Sure it would cost - USC compensates Staley very well. But Uconn is the historical Top Dog. When Geno decides to retire, Dawn Staley should be his successor.

Dawn is an average coach but a good recruiter.

 

[nuna23]

after geno it should be maya or diana 🐐

 

[chrissaran]

UConn is an elite team, not a bottom of the barrel of a team when Geno and Chris took over. No way Dawn Staley is picked for the job. It will be someone with incredible basketball sense, organizational sense, and communication ability. Don't think the coach is on staff. Look to Princeton. Carla Berube 26-1 in her first year, without Bella Alarie, their best player. She has all the coaching traits someone would need to succeed Geno.

 

[Carnac]

Shea is at Vanderbilt to get HC experience then will be headed back to UCONN for the HC position once he and CD retire.. that’s just my 2 cents.. 😬

Just a thought.......I wonder how closely Shea’s practices will mirror Geno’s? 😳

 

[sivad40]

UConn is an elite team, not a bottom of the barrel of a team when Geno and Chris took over. No way Dawn Staley is picked for the job. It will be someone with incredible basketball sense, organizational sense, and communication ability. Don't think the coach is on staff. Look to Princeton. Carla Berube 26-1 in her first year, without Bella Alarie, their best player. She has all the coaching traits someone would need to succeed Geno.

Bella Alarie was on Carla's team.

 

[Rb335]

Brand name is also important. Look at what just the weight of Kara Lawson’s name and reputation has done in the portal. Kids know who she is and I don’t doubt she’ll have success recruiting. Recruiting is half the battle in WCBB. I honestly go back to Lobo in my head for some reason. Kids would want to play for her, and she basically put the program on the map. The only issue being she’s never coached. Shea is the other name that comes to mind. A lot will depend on how she recruits at Vandy.