Give Kevin a Chance

[whaler11]

Yeah, there were definitely more than a few moments where I actually wanted him to get teed up against Memphis. It might have cost us two points, but the refs were atrocious and the players seeing that probably would have responded earlier.

Still, my comments stand. The young players are improving. Not fast enough to change the season's outcome. Not fast enough to hold off the mob. But they are improving, and that's typically the sign of a good coach...

If the young players are improving why are the losses getting worse? Why do they continue to slide down the efficiency rankings?

Against the KenPom top 150 they are..
3-16.

THREE AND SIXTEEN!!!!

The fourth best team they beat this season is Monmouth: An 11-19 outfit out of the MAAC which is ranked 20th best conference.

Do you want another football program on your hands? If they don’t fix this now it’s just going to get harder to dig out of the hole. They botched the coaching decisions so badly in football the program’s continuing existance is in doubt.

He was a great player - that can’t be one the critieria for coaching decisions. Maybe his effort is better than it looks, but candidly what I can see without even considering the long term rumors... loyalty is a two way street. They aren’t paying him $3 million a year for what he did as a player 25 years ago.

 

[nychuskyfan]

Not one person here would walk away from ten million dollars. None. The only compromise would be to spread it out over 10 to 20 years.
.

This offseason may be our only opportunity to negotiate a reduced buyout if his contract really does say that any NCAA violation allows termination for cause. Unless the NCAA investigation is resolved in UConn’s favor before the season ends, which seems very unlikely, feels like there’s a deal to be had where Ollie takes a couple million bucks and walks away rather than roll the dice and possibly get $0 while having to resign in shame. If I were advising him I’d be asking how many times the NCAA has done a detailed investigation with 100 hours of taped interviews and not come down with some infraction.

 

[temery]

This offseason may be our only opportunity to negotiate a reduced buyout if his contract really does say that any NCAA violation allows termination for cause. Unless the NCAA investigation is resolved in UConn’s favor before the season ends, which seems very unlikely, feels like there’s a deal to be had where Ollie takes a couple million bucks and walks away rather than roll the dice and possibly get $0 while having to resign in shame. If I were advising him I’d be asking how many times the NCAA has done a detailed investigation with 100 hours of taped interviews and not come down with some infraction.

I agree, but I seriously doubt the 100 hours of taped interviews. I've heard it, but I don't believe it.

 

[freescooter]

Couldn’t have said it better.

Plus we’ll have Ajenko so no worries.

 

[freescooter]

When I’m talking alumni I’m talking basketball alumni. Not students. Former players aren’t happy with the way Kevin has been treated by the fans.

Poor babies. Ask em how they’d be treated by Calhoun if they played the way he has coached...

 

[Huskybass]

UConn has made one NCAA tournament in 4 seasons and the last 2 seasons have been awful by any objectiive standard. I don't see how anyone could advocate this continuing next season. The time has come to make a change.

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

I have been a UCONN Men’s season ticket holder for 33 years and Woman’s 24 years, I looked up at the banners last night 15 and realized how spoiled we are as UCONN fans. We are not entitled to championships or NCAA tournament selections. We should be ashamed of how we are treating Kevin, he who played for us and coached us to a NC in 2014. It wasn’t just a few years ago that we were worried sick that Kevin would leave for the NBA. In his short coaching tenure Kevin has replaced a HOF coach, cleaned up the fall out of a academic progress probation and still won a NC. He deserves a chance to turn this around with his new coaching staff. Kevin has 3 years left on his contract, give him a chance to succeed, get off his back, he deserves our support.

I couldn't help myself. Had to log in at work to like this. The way many have attacked Kevin this year is almost criminal and is not making things any easier to fix the issues our program has. It almost feels like they never liked KO to begin with. How can anyone in any job perform the job the best they can with so much constant adversity. I am sure KO is used to this his whole career, but it is unnecessary. It's fine to provide constructive criticism, but once it crosses the line into personal insults and calling to end one's career its sickening. There are many factors that contributed to the mess we are in. KO did have some part in it, but not nearly as big a part as people make it out to be. The program and ones at the top are just as much to blame if not more to blame.

 

[mauconnfan]

I knew BigJim OP was starting a potential storm that hit us hard and then turned back around to hit us yet again.

 

[mauconnfan]

I couldn't help myself. Had to log in at work to like this. The way many have attacked Kevin this year is almost criminal and is not making things any easier to fix the issues our program has. It almost feels like they never liked KO to begin with. How can anyone in any job perform the job the best they can with so much constant adversity. I am sure KO is used to this his whole career, but it is unnecessary. It's fine to provide constructive criticism, but once it crosses the line into personal insults and calling to end one's career its sickening. There are many factors that contributed to the mess we are in. KO did have some part in it, but not nearly as big a part as people make it out to be. The program and ones at the top are just as much to blame if not more to blame.

He is to blame more than even you would like to acknowledge Top Dog but mostly I agree with much of what you say. I mean no matter how many question marks were there heading into the season there so many who already gave up instead hoping they'd have their day. Well they have it, it's here and it's time to celebrate because they were right. Hope they feel real good about that because it seems they're happy.

Time to move on, will be interesting times for our program but there won't be the same fan base ever again. It will never feel the same, even on the Boneyard. It's a very sad time for a proud program yet the chests are being pounded.

 

[Huskybass]

Well, I wouldn't say that. If indeed recruiting was the issue, and I think many here would agree that it is, well he let his recruiting coordinator go and brought in someone who is seen as a recruiting expert.

That's what a good head coach does; makes tough decisions for the betterment of the team. I honestly think he understands the problem and is trying to deal with it as quickly as possible...

Sorry but I look at the coaching staff during games and I am thoroughly unimpressed. Chillious has a reputation as a great recruiter, but between Washington and here, his team has a combined record of 22 and 38 over the past 2 seasons. As to Killings and Moore, I can't tell what positive impact they are having over the past 2 very disappointing seasons.
UConn never even challenges for the AAC regular season title, and this season UConn is in the BOTTOM 1/3 of the AAC standings.

He is to blame more than even you would like to acknowledge Top Dog but mostly I agree with much of what you say. I mean no matter how many question marks were there heading into the season there so many who already gave up instead hoping they'd have their day. Well they have it, it's here and it's time to celebrate because they were right. Hope they feel real good about that because it seems they're happy.

Time to move on, will be interesting times for our program but there won't be the same fan base ever again. It will never feel the same, even on the Boneyard. It's a very sad time for a proud program yet the chests are being pounded.

No the chests are not being pounded. Those who realize that a change is going to be made (and rightfully so) can now have legitimate hope that the program can return to being relevant. That's all. Very simple.

 

[DMIL]

Talk about being spoiled by expectations. $3 Million per year is a lot of money by any objective standard. It's a ton of money to coach a kid's game. This isn't brain surgery, curing cancer or even putting your life on the line to protect others. If you want to make obscene amounts of money, then you better perform at levels commensurate with ridiculous compensation you're earning. We owe him exactly nothing.

He owes the school everything from a free education, to affiliation with a hall of fame coach and being entrusted the keys to the kingdom with no head coach experience, to being handed a loaded program. Sorry, not falling for the guilt trip.

We owe Kevin for his contributions to the UCONN program starting with his decision to come across the country to go to school and become a UCONN player. He is a big boy and whatever happens, happens and certainly goes with the territory however there are certain lines that shouldn’t be crossed. As frustrating as the last few years have been, our UCONN brother deserves our respect; opinions of the blocking and tackling of the role aside.

 

[polycom]

When I’m talking alumni I’m talking basketball alumni. Not students. Former players aren’t happy with the way Kevin has been treated by the fans.

So you are talking about Kevin's teammates because recent player alumni aren't happy with UConn's play.

 

[djct1999]

I couldn't help myself. Had to log in at work to like this. The way many have attacked Kevin this year is almost criminal and is not making things any easier to fix the issues our program has. It almost feels like they never liked KO to begin with. How can anyone in any job perform the job the best they can with so much constant adversity. I am sure KO is used to this his whole career, but it is unnecessary. It's fine to provide constructive criticism, but once it crosses the line into personal insults and calling to end one's career its sickening. There are many factors that contributed to the mess we are in. KO did have some part in it, but not nearly as big a part as people make it out to be. The program and ones at the top are just as much to blame if not more to blame.

KO had some part in it? KO is the single biggest reason why the program is where it currently is. As the States highest paid employee, its time for him to take some accountability. While I agree that no one has the right to personally insult the man, his criticism and backlash for his on court performance is well justified.

 

[BlueDogs]

Here's the thing. I can rationalize all kinds of reasons why KO "deserves" another chance, and this year was one of those "chances". If we all recall, this season was the turn/around season after the prior year's losing season. But, I suspect like many here, we are not basketball dopes and the basketball eyes don't lie. You can see the product is poor and getting worse. If I saw any marginal improvement in running the O, more ball and player movement, more court awareness by bigs, better box outs, better shot selection, better perimeter D... anything resembling better execution and team play I'd say sure give him a season. It simply is not there and the reason is he's over his head in this situation and he's a piss poor coach without training wheels.. So, he has to go.

 

[BlueDogs]

We owe Kevin for his contributions to the UCONN program starting with his decision to come across the country to go to school and become a UCONN player. He is a big boy and whatever happens, happens and certainly goes with the territory however there are certain lines that shouldn’t be crossed. As frustrating as the last few years have been, our UCONN brother deserves our respect; opinions of the blocking and tackling of the role aside.

You can certainly respect him for what he did in the past. I would never presume to attack his character, because nobody is in a position to do that.

But, he's currently paid $3MM to be a head coach and is failing. I don't think it's fair to conflate his past as a player with his current situation either in regards to notion we "owe" him anything.

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

KO had some part in it? KO is the single biggest reason why the program is where it currently is. As the States highest paid employee, its time for him to take some accountability. While I agree that no one has the right to personally insult the man, his criticism and backlash for his on court performance is well justified.

So Kevin chose to be in this conference? Kevin chose to have half is roster injured and his future star PG injured two straight seasons? He chose to have to fill last minute roster spots last summer after soft players decided to transfer out because they didn't want to work hard and do it the UConn way?

He did choose to stay at UConn and turn down much more money in NBA coaching. Says a lot about his dedication to the university. But after the way he has been treated, he probably wishes he wasn't so loyal to people who could care less about him.

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

You can certainly respect him for what he did in the past. I would never presume to attack his character, because nobody is in a position to do that.

But, he's currently paid $3MM to be a head coach and is failing. I don't think it's fair to conflate his past as a player with his current situation either in regards to notion we "owe" him anything.

If money is the issue here, I don't see why a contract can't be modified to take a pay cut with bonuses/raises based on positive performance.

 

[Hugo]

People need to accept this and try there best to support him. He’s still our coach, UConn alumni hate seeing him being treated the way he has been. He hates losing just as much as we do. It’s been tough but the fans don’t help. At the end of the day complaining and negativity gets us no where, if we want this program to get back on track the fans need to step up.

Actually the majority of fans are stepping up and "if we want this program to get back on track" we realize that KO is just not the right person to accomplish this. Look at our record over the past 3 years and watch how the team has played recently. It's obvious to most of us that we aren't getting any better and in fact we are in a downward trend. There is no significant development of our players, recruiting has fallen off, there is little team chemistry on the floor, rotations are a joke, our BB IQ is horrible and we just don't see this improving if KO remains as coach. He will always be a Husky and remembered as a good team player and for 2014, but unless you are happy being a .500 team hoping for an NIT bid, it's time to move on with a new coach.

 

[polycom]

So Kevin chose to be in this conference? Kevin chose to have half is roster injured and his future star PG injured two straight seasons? He chose to have to fill last minute roster spots last summer after soft players decided to transfer out because they didn't want to work hard and do it the UConn way?

He did choose to stay at UConn and turn down much more money in NBA coaching. Says a lot about his dedication to the university. But after the way he has been treated, he probably wishes he wasn't so loyal to people who could care less about him.

So you are either KO's Uncle or mom. This situation is KO fault 95%.

 

[CTMike]

So Kevin chose to be in this conference? Kevin chose to have half is roster injured and his future star PG injured two straight seasons? He chose to have to fill last minute roster spots last summer after soft players decided to transfer out because they didn't want to work hard and do it the UConn way?

He did choose to stay at UConn and turn down much more money in NBA coaching. Says a lot about his dedication to the university. But after the way he has been treated, he probably wishes he wasn't so loyal to people who could care less about him.

Whomever is coach has to deal with this conference and better deal with it successfully - that’s not specific to KO. But he knew what he was getting in to. So, yes - he did in fact choose to be in this conference.

All coaches have to deal with injuries.

And KO recruited the players that you call soft.

 

[djct1999]

So Kevin chose to be in this conference? Kevin chose to have half is roster injured and his future star PG injured two straight seasons? He chose to have to fill last minute roster spots last summer after soft players decided to transfer out because they didn't want to work hard and do it the UConn way?

He did choose to stay at UConn and turn down much more money in NBA coaching. Says a lot about his dedication to the university. But after the way he has been treated, he probably wishes he wasn't so loyal to people who could care less about him.

LMAO.

 

[polycom]

If money is the issue here, I don't see why a contract can't be modified to take a pay cut with bonuses/raises based on positive performance.

Are you taking a paycut at your job if they don't fire you?

 

[QDOG5]

If everyone asked themselves objectively -- if we had a head coach from outside the UConn family instead of KO and we give said coach KO's record, all the good and bad including the present state of the program. Would you be willing to give that coach one more year? It's hard for me to be dispassionate about KO too but if I go with my head I say ANY coach whose program is on the trajectory similar to UConn's the last four years should be fired.

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

Whomever is coach has to deal with this conference and better deal with it successfully - that’s not specific to KO. But he knew what he was getting in to. So, yes - he did in fact choose to be in this conference.

All coaches have to deal with injuries.

And KO recruited the players that you call soft.

Hindsight is 20/20. I am sure everyone here have done things in life they wish they did differently. And if KO has half a brain, I am sure he learned from his mistakes. Its not easy to fill the shoes of a HOF coach. Calhoun had the chance to develop into the coach he became at Northeastern. Kevin was just thrown into the fire.

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

Are you taking a paycut at your job if they don't fire you?

If I love what I do, I can put food on my table, and a roof over my head, yes I would take a pay cut to prove myself. 100% no questions asked.

 

[SirHypeAlot]

Kevin can walk away with 10 mil and go to Grant's 7 nights a week or he can continue to destroy what's left of a once premier program. I'd rather see him at Grant's

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

Any threads from now on either supporting or against KO's job security should be banned. The same things have been said a million times and quite frankly we are sick of reading about it. A middle ground will never be reached. Everyone has their own opinions. No point in discussing this any further. Its a topic with a dead end street.

 

[freescooter]

Honestly reading some of these posts reminds me of a bunch of jr. high girls who just found out the math teacher they all have a crush on is marrying the English teacher they all hate. Ollie is getting paid $3 million per year make g him one of the highest paid coaches in the country. He is getting that kings ransom to coach winning basketball teams. He has basically failed at that for 4 years. He isn’t being fired for being a bad player back in the 1990s or for being a bad guy or a bad UConn alumnus. He is a really bad basketball coach. Nothing more and nothing less. If he was a Syracuse grad or a Duke grad it would make no difference. He is still a bad basketball coach and for that reason needs to go.

 

[djct1999]

Honestly reading some of these posts reminds me of a bunch of jr. high girls who just found out the math teacher they all have a crush on is marrying the English teacher they all hate. Ollie is getting paid $3 million per year make g him one of the highest paid coaches in the country. He is getting that kings ransom to coach winning basketball teams. He has basically failed at that for 4 years. He isn’t being fired for being a bad player back in the 1990s or for being a bad guy or a bad UConn alumnus. He is a really bad basketball coach. Nothing more and nothing less. If he was a Syracuse grad or a Duke grad it would make no difference. He is still a bad basketball coach and for that reason needs to go.

100%. And when other teams are on record saying UConn is the easiest team to scout, he isn't just bad at what he does, he is really bad.

 

[bazzketball13]

Say he returns next year...

We could go 20-10 with these new recruits or 10-20.

We get a new coach and I think the above statement might be the same or worse with transfers out.

Dare I say it... who do we think would transfer after this year if Ollie stayed? How about if he left? I don’t even want to answer that question

In the end it comes down to what’s best for the program and the university.

There’s going to be pros and cons for him leaving vs him staying.

One thing is for sure KO was dealt with nasty injuries 2 years in a row. He wasn’t able to player develop to combat those loses. I think Memphis is made of all juco players and they are doing better than we are. Idk if KO knows what to do and from the interviews with the players after games it seems like they don’t really know what the solution is either. I think it’s the person driving the ship :/

Money-minded Austin316 might say keep him for now.
My head says we gotta cut the man loose.
My heart says give him another year.
... now my heart and head are saying I wanna beer.
Ugh.

If Ollie leaves
Jalen dosent return
Akinjo dosent come
Ty polley leaves
Josh leaves
Emit leves unless chills is hired

My guess is Cobb and Isaiah are most likely already leaving. Cobb and Ollie’s relationship is gone and isiah is far to over his head at a program of this level.