Holly Warlick press conference | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Holly Warlick press conference

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If the talk moves to changing coaches, I am reminded of a decade or so ago..... Remember when Urban was the hot thing in football, and the Notre Dame head coaching was open and most of the public figured he would take that position, and then he took the Florida job? Tennessee position isn't utopia now..... LV program does not have great support from the athletic department, so why would a big name coach take that, and also, Holly's initial HC contract was for about $350K I think...... good for you and me maybe, but for the HC position at the U of T? ...... and many are promoting Tyler to morph into the position..... as I have said before, I only hear him as a parrot of his mother..... still believes WCBB is ALL about defense and rebounding..... like it is a prescription for all ills...... I can't wait to see a LTech game so I can see first hand what kind of a game coach he is......
 
If I'm U Tenn - the last person I would want to hire- is someone I would an extremely difficult time eventually firing. Reminds me of the Yankees not asking Don Mattingly to manage. Firing Joe Girardi would be a lot easier than firing Donny Baseball. Just my thought!
 
ericsandiego said:
If Stringer, at 102 years of age, can learn and teach new offense to her team, surely Holly can do the same. Heck, even Tara, in one summer, revamped her entire offense to a new guard oriented one and sprung the surprising upset over UCONN...
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I'm not so sure that Viv's offense is much different, per se. I always come back to the Auburn victory some years ago in the NCAA at the RAC. It was an offense we had never imagined (we ran circles around them and Dewanna Bonner too) - yet the woman I used to talk to that was on the bench with Vivian at Cheney assured me that it was classic Vivian with the brakes off. FWIW.

I was quite impressed by Tara's change - but look what has happened since. Similarly, years ago, Viv learned the triangle from Tex Winter and Phil, but chose not to implement it because we didn't have the personnel, while Stanford made a living on it for years.
 
easttexastrash said:
I wonder if they would get past their hatred of Mulkey should Tennessee be able to lure her away from Baylor. Holly's days are numbered. But I guarantee you that UT is not going to go outside the UT family for the next coach.
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Why would Mulkey leave Baylor? It's a prime coaching job and I bet the school would match any salary offers from other schools.
 
It seems to me Holly is trying to coach the way she was coached all those years ago. But in listening to Geno over these last few years, the current generation of players is much different than past ones. Geno says the players' attention span is shorter and it's hard to get them to focus. He also said that AAU these days is more about showcasing stars and less about teaching them to win so it's harder to find players that just want to win, even if it means setting screens for other players all night.

So, Geno has changed his coaching style. I think Muffet has as well and it appears Tara has a new approach, too, although that's inference on my part just from some superficial observation. Maybe Holly shouldn't be worrying so much about what Tennessee did with players in the past and start looking at the best way to get a consistently high level of play from the roster she has.
 
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Geno-ista said:
If I'm U Tenn - the last person I would want to hire- is someone I would an extremely difficult time eventually firing. Reminds me of the Yankees not asking Don Mattingly to manage. Firing Joe Girardi would be a lot easier than firing Donny Baseball. Just my thought!
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Heck they hired and fired Billy Martin annually or so it seemed. :cool:
 
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The problem at Tenn is disicipling the players. Because theyre not disciplined they're not coachable. That goes hand in hand. They do as they please because they are and were not taught what to do and how to do it. That is execution. So what has been happening at Tenn is give the ball to your top scorer and let her do her thing. Maybe she will pass the ball, maybe she'll shoot it or force a shot. Yeah we've seen a lot of that. IMO you teach the players what to do and how to execute plays and if they don't sit'em. Makes you wonder next season with DD and MR in the lineup if that is the game plan.

Tenn needs to rebuild their program. If the present coaching staff cant then replace them with a coach who can. However that brings up another problem. Pat is still being paid and so is Holly. That's a lot of money. So if you bring in a new coaching staff where does the money come from? Its not like a new coaching staff will fill the arena? Its already filled. That's a problem. So maybe the administration at Tenn is thinking why change coaching staffs when the arena is filled, just have an easier schedule and win games and the LV fans will think Tenn is great, then when Hollys contract runs out we can take a look at the coaching staff. By getting a couple of top players gives LV fans hope and with hope it puts fannies in the seats and bring money into the program. So next season DD and MR play and that's the hope LV fans need. IMO that really doesn't matter if you don't have a team. Basketball is a team game not and individual game and I suspect next season Tenn will have their hopes up again because DD and MR are in the lineup but there wont be a team. There will be individuals trying to win games by themselves.

If this season continues as it is for the LVs you've got to wonder what DD and MR are thinking.
 
Icebear said:
Heck they hired and fired Billy Martin annually or so it seemed. :cool:
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I think the point Geno-ista was making was that Mattingly was a beloved player with the organization and more importantly the fans. There would be a revolt if George fired Mattingly with his typical knee jerk reaction the way he fired Billy and for that matter other managers. Billy was liked and amusing to the fans, but never really admired the way Donny was IMO.
 
Again, good points Tony..... on the money for the coaching staff..... if they decide to pull a switch, it wouldn't be so tough a thing..... Pat is down to $75K a year for her HCE position. .... and Holly is at $375K I believe..... they are saving a bunch from the HPS days....

and I have always said....... the quicker Pat is gone from the program, the better the overall situation will be.,.... it is a novel thing they are trying to do..... but it casts such a big shadow over the entire program..... she has her place in history, she has her statue..... she should leave it at that.
 
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geneticrex said:
As far as highly rated high school talent, Tennessee is loaded and will be even more so next season. That they continue to underperform, year in and year out, paints a clear picture of an overall philosophy that needs updating.

I find it hard to believe that if Tennessee's exact roster's since their Final Four drought were in the hand's of Geno, or Muffet, or Kim, or Jeff, or Tara, or "fill in the blank", they would have been shut out of a FF appearance.
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It's just possible that the talent on hand will be strong enough for them to play essentially without coaching
DD, aside from her BB skill, is no dummy, and she's getting a crash course in observing how not to coach
I think they'll be formidable next season.
 
Bayareahusky said:
Again, good points Tony..... on the money for the coaching staff..... if they decide to pull a switch, it wouldn't be so tough a thing..... Pat is down to $75K a year for her HCE position. .... and Holly is at $375K I believe..... they are saving a bunch from the HPS days....

and I have always said.. the quicker Pat is gone from the program, the better the overall situation will be.,.... it is a novel thing they are trying to do..... but it casts such a big shadow over the entire program..... she has her place in history, she has her statue..... she should leave it at that.
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I think, and this is just a guess, that the feeling was having her around would be good for the players Pat recruited, and also for future players that are being recruited. It's great to have a legend around. Imagine if UCONN was able to have an icon like Dee or Sue or Maya around (I know it's not identical), but it certainly couldn't hurt recruiting...

Also of course it was to honor her for her dedication and accomplishments at the University...
 
Icebear said:
Heck they hired and fired Billy Martin annually or so it seemed. :cool:
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Gd pt- but the more info I have heard about that situation- it was a bit unique because of Billy's personal demons, and drinking issues , among others I think.
George actually had a bigger heart than we/ I knew at the time. Even though I despised him during that time as well. He gave Billy 2nd chances and I think he showed the same compassion w/ Strawberry. But Mattingly was our only shining star for 15 yrs+~ during some dark days. I think hiring Donny Baseball and having to fire him would have created another Yogi Berra situation IB- as always- there is a really Gd chance that I'm way off as usual! :)
 
msf22b said:
It's just possible that the talent on hand will be strong enough for them to play essentially without coaching
DD, aside from her BB skill, is no dummy, and she's getting a crash course in observing how not to coach
I think they'll be formidable next season.
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I think DD will be a much higher skilled version of Simmons - she was last year for UNC. Dynamic as heck but she shot 42.6% for the year while the next four highest scores on the team all shot 47.2% or better - and she took 220 more shots than anyone else on the team - she also took 20 more threes than anyone else while shooting 27.9% (next most frequent three point shooter shot 41.8%.) If she is coachable and has a strong coach she will be a great player for years - at TN I think she will just continue the trend of the inmates running the asylum.
 
msf22b said:
It's just possible that the talent on hand will be strong enough for them to play essentially without coaching
DD, aside from her BB skill, is no dummy, and she's getting a crash course in observing how not to coach
I think they'll be formidable next season.
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I think you are 100% correct. If you added DD to any solid team- she is an absolute game changer- I think Green Bay is a potential top 5 team if DD joined them this year. She is prolific. And I think her will to win will make her create and dish and make others better. We'll find out next year. But the Tenn environment may not be the environment to foster that. She reminds me of Angel McCaughtry. Angel really carried a decent team to a Nat Championship- by herself.
 
Geno-ista said:
Reminds me of the Yankees not asking Don Mattingly to manage. Firing Joe Girardi would be a lot easier than firing Donny Baseball. Just my thought!
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The Boss would have hired both of them. Don Mattingly as manager and Joe Girardi as his bench coach to step in when he fired Don Mattingly. :)
 
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ericsandiego said:
I think, and this is just a guess, that the feeling was having her around would be good for the players Pat recruited, and also for future players that are being recruited. It's great to have a legend around. Imagine if UCONN was able to have an icon like Dee or Sue or Maya around (I know it's not identical), but it certainly couldn't hurt recruiting...

Also of course it was to honor her for her dedication and accomplishments at the University...
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I agree Eric - and I suspect she is seldom seen around the practice facility or the offices now. She probably is making 'publicity' appearances for the University and the team, but not even on campus on a daily basis - probably not around for weeks on end. (Not dissimilar to Calhoun - showed up for the practice facility dedication but disappeared before the first night festivities, which I thought was a good call.)
 
Geno-ista said:
I think you are 100% correct. If you added DD to any solid team- she is an absolute game changer- I think Green Bay is a potential top 5 team if DD joined them this year. She is prolific. And I think her will to win will make her create and dish and make others better. We'll find out next year. But the Tenn environment may not be the environment to foster that. She reminds me of Angel McCaughtry. Angel really carried a decent team to a Nat Championship- by herself.
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??? Don't remember that one...?
 
Even if the players totally bought into the PHS/Holly system, they would be buying into an outdated and outmoded system that is not going to win consistently today against teams with more advanced concepts of both offense and defense. This is probably one reason theat they are not buying into it. I have not seen any UT games this year, but from reading the comments of UT fans, the basic problem seems to be one of lack of team play and cooperation, both on offense and defense. This COULD be because of diva personalities on the part of the players, or it COULD be because of the "system" they are being taught in practice. Or a combination of the two. Pat was able to put enough fear into her players that they would go out and play to the absolute extent of their abilities, which covered a lot of faults in strategy. Holly seems to just not have that ability to strike fear into their hearts. It has been posted many times that Pat's "system" consisted of chucking up shots, hitting the boards, and ferocious man-to-man, one-on-one defense, and this is undoubtedly true. But there was also the factor of "you get out there and bust your butt or you will answer to me", which Pat had and Holly does not. Or so it seems.
 
:p
Geno-ista said:
Gd pt- but the more info I have heard about that situation- it was a bit unique because of Billy's personal demons, and drinking issues , among others I think.
George actually had a bigger heart than we/ I knew at the time. Even though I despised him during that time as well. He gave Billy 2nd chances and I think he showed the same compassion w/ Strawberry. But Mattingly was our only shining star for 15 yrs+~ during some dark days. I think hiring Donny Baseball and having to fire him would have created another Yogi Berra situation IB- as always- there is a really Gd chance that I'm way off as usual! :)
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Exactly! You're not as way off this time as you usually are! :p
 
j66kicker said:
??? Don't remember that one...?
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We beat Louisville by 30-40 in the NC her sr season. They may have been FF team her Jr yr? Angel was a prolific game changer, with the quickest hands I've ever seen. Similar to Kelly's hands!
 
msf22b said:
It's just possible that the talent on hand will be strong enough for them to play essentially without coaching
DD, aside from her BB skill, is no dummy, and she's getting a crash course in observing how not to coach
I think they'll be formidable next season.
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With the cast of characters they have, they better be, or I think changes will be made.
 
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ericsandiego said:
I think, and this is just a guess, that the feeling was having her around would be good for the players Pat recruited, and also for future players that are being recruited. It's great to have a legend around. Imagine if UCONN was able to have an icon like Dee or Sue or Maya around (I know it's not identical), but it certainly couldn't hurt recruiting...

Also of course it was to honor her for her dedication and accomplishments at the University...
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Yes..... Point well taken Eric...... and ordinarily I would think that this is a great gesture and LV program would benefit..... but in this particular instance, where you have one of her followers taking over from her...... then the current coach has a tough time moving away from anything counter to anything-Pat-Summit...... no matter the issue...... CHW subscribes to the omnipresent question WWPD?,,,, What would Pat do? ..... and she does not have the personal gravitas to pull it off...... Holly has a tough enough time with the job as it is in general..... and the individual pieces of it..... wow.... I am sure Pat ... even in her worst years.... would be able for example to direct her team to assume the proper physical defensive stance on the floor..... I see Pat's separation from the program as a statement essentially...... "We are Tennessee basketball, and we are charting our new beginning..... " ..... but that will not happen.... I am sure they will hold on to anything Pat Summit..... and one more thought..... we all know Pat didn't retire at the height of her effectiveness..... even with sensitivity to her affliction..... she herself said she went to the Mayo that last year of her coaching tenure because she only then started to feel things weren't right..... but the wheels were starting to fall off earlier for her..... Parker covered for a good bit..... but losing in NCAAs decisively to ........ Ball State......., perpetuating an antiquated coaching philosophy which worked in 1985 yet was tired by 2010...... having your guard play so bad that you guaranteed a high school senior a starting position, and openly advertising that to her team.....

all these things..... and all is perpetuated by having her legacy glorified.... it is perhaps just my opinion that this continued attachment to the program hinders the current coaching staff, who are running toward and embracing her past teachings when they should be working on charting their own course..... again, JMO
 
Geno-ista said:
Gd pt- but the more info I have heard about that situation- it was a bit unique because of Billy's personal demons, and drinking issues , among others I think.
George actually had a bigger heart than we/ I knew at the time. Even though I despised him during that time as well. He gave Billy 2nd chances and I think he showed the same compassion w/ Strawberry. But Mattingly was our only shining star for 15 yrs+~ during some dark days. I think hiring Donny Baseball and having to fire him would have created another Yogi Berra situation IB- as always- there is a really Gd chance that I'm way off as usual! :)
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Absolutely. There are plenty of Dodger fans who would gladly fire Mattingly. ;) Heck, the Red Sox might be willing to hire him just so they CAN fire him.
 
Great thoughts by all, Tenn has always been a team that could not shoot a lot of 3's even in their hayday. They lok lost as a team and the game against Texas was the only time that I watched them this season and they are lost..............WOW!!!..They have some talent that is not use or is playing up to the capabilities..........Is Holly the worng coach for UT..Was she too close to PHS to make her own impression and coaching style.......Maybe is time to clean out all the old PHS folks and start a new.........I hope PHS is doing well and is enjoying her retirement...........Great lady.
 
jsloanjr said:
Great thoughts by all, Tenn has always been a team that could not shoot a lot of 3's even in their hayday. They lok lost as a team and the game against Texas was the only time that I watched them this season and they are lost....WOW!!!..They have some talent that is not use or is playing up to the capabilities.....Is Holly the worng coach for UT..Was she too close to PHS to make her own impression and coaching style..Maybe is time to clean out all the old PHS folks and start a new....I hope PHS is doing well and is enjoying her retirement......Great lady.
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It seems like the first coach that initially follows the 'legend' is often unsuccessful in sports, and that top programs don't recover til at least the second replacement. Problem for UT is the AD doesn't appear to be one who would get out there and swing for the fences in an attempt to bring in a top caliber coach for the LVs. That would take not only significant $$ but a tenable story about 'a supportive environment/climate for womens' sports at the university.' Neither of which sounds like the trajectory they're on right now.
 
The idea that TN could bring in 'anyone' to coach WCBB is pretty naive - the only program that has really gone out and bought a WCBB coach is Texas, tempting Gail away from Duke. And I would say that was a mistake for both parties! And Texas has more money than anyone else so they can afford a prestige gesture in WCBB - no other AD is going to throw money at WCBB. The other 'name' coaches out there at D1 powerhouses have built their programs and are being paid very well already - why would they want to leave the program they built to make a parallel move to a program someone else built. Maybe a coach like Cole at OK might consider a move based on recruiting issues? but Kim or Jeff or Mitchell at KY - I just don't see it.

It is much more likely to tempt a good mid-major coach to make a move up in class or attract a smart assistant - Dawn and Jeff being the ones that jump to mind in that category. And Texas seems to have gotten right the second time around.
 
I posted early (right after Holly was hired and Pat was anointed with sainthood) and occasionally later that "Holly has the worst head coaching job in wcbb." It was not possible for her to succeed to Pat's former standards nor could she ever enjoy Pat's adulation from the fan base.

Think of it this way. Imagine the reaction had the British Admiralty reserved a cabin on The HMS Bounty for Captain Bligh after his successor assumed command.
 
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