Hope they give Ollie a shot...

[freescooter]

I doubt a big time established coach is coming to UConn. There just aren't that many big time established coaches out there that aren't in similar positions. You either look at an established up and comer or someone internally.

Let's look at coaches in the top 25:

• Tier 1 (not going anywhere [or at least UConn] regardless of what you throw at me)

1. Calipari (NBA maybe) #1
2. Boehiem #2
3. Matta #3
4. Williams #5
5. K #7
6. Self #8
7. Izzo #9
8. Donovan #12 (not UConn at least)
9. Thompson III #14
10. Ryan #19
11. Creen #20
12. Fisher #17 (old)
13. Stansbury #22
14. Beilein #23
15. Few #24

• Tier 2 (Not the greatest resume)

1. Haith #4
2. McDermott #13
3. Bennett #16
4. Stallings #25

• Tier 3 (It's going to cost you and is it really worth it)

1. Drew #6
2. Buzz Williams #15 (I doubt he goes in conference when/if he moves)

• Tier 4 (Hmmm, I dunno)

1. Prohm #10
2. Rice #11
3. Randy Bennett #18
4. Hamilton #21

Now looking at the other coaches out there that might come to UConn:

1. Amaker (Harvard) - failed at previous big-time job
2. Hurley (s) - interesting
3. Smart - not sure if fluke or would work at a big-time (interesting but guarded)
4. Stevens - interesting but would be hard to pry him from the mid-west

Not sure there is anyone else that would come to UConn (Dixon, Miller, etc.), am I missing anyone.

But caw, you aren't going to go after Fisher or Boeheim or Izzo or Self. Buzz would take the job in a heartbeat. I'd take Calipari in a heartbeat, but UCONN wouldn't return his call. So would Creen and so would several others on that list. Obvioulsy guys like K and Williams and Beilien probalby aren't coming. they are at comparable programs. But mos tof the guys on your list not at schools like Kansas Duke UCLA and North Carolina...most of them would lick the yellow line down the middle of th ehighway from where they are to Gampel if our new AD called for an interview.

I think a more likely scenario is what you suggest, we'll hire an up and comer. More than likely it will be a guy with East coast connections, but not necessarily, but I could see Smart or Stevens. If he succeeds in turning Iowa around I coulsd see McCaffery getting a look. And as for Amaker, you really need to take into consideration the situation he walked into at Michigan before you say he failed. They were banned form the post season for his first 2 years, and lost a scholarhsip every single year he was there. And he won 22 games twice and 23 once. Given the circumstances he found himself in, I'm not sure fail is exactly the word I'd use. I would sure look at him.

 

[caw]

But caw, you aren't going to go after Fisher or Boeheim or Izzo or Self. Buzz would take the job in a heartbeat. I'd take Calipari in a heartbeat, but UCONN wouldn't return his call. So would Creen and so would several others on that list. Obvioulsy guys like K and Williams and Beilien probalby aren't coming. they are at comparable programs. But mos tof the guys on your list not at schools like Kansas Duke UCLA and North Carolina...most of them would lick the yellow line down the middle of th ehighway from where they are to Gampel if our new AD called for an interview.

I think a more likely scenario is what you suggest, we'll hire an up and comer. More than likely it will be a guy with East coast connections, but not necessarily, but I could see Smart or Stevens. If he succeeds in turning Iowa around I coulsd see McCaffery getting a look. And as for Amaker, you really need to take into consideration the situation he walked into at Michigan before you say he failed. They were banned form the post season for his first 2 years, and lost a scholarhsip every single year he was there. And he won 22 games twice and 23 once. Given the circumstances he found himself in, I'm not sure fail is exactly the word I'd use. I would sure look at him.

I was just going through the teams in the top 25 and their coaches, Tier 1 are just coaches who in all likelihood would not come to UConn and I'm not sure UConn would even bother to look at.

I don't see Creen leaving Indiana
Some in the Tier 1 may return a call, but I doubt any would leave their programs because they are their programs (Matta/Thompson III/Ryan/etc.)

Buzz could I guess, I just don't think you will see many BE to BE moves. I might include Dixon/Wright with Buzz.

Amaker would have a similar situation here and for the record I would give him a shot, though I'm not sure before Ollie.

 

[uconngb]

Well Miller is an east coast guy and UConn is a better job than Arizona despite what you think. uconngb, you really don't think any big time coaches would be interested in the UConn job.

Sean Miller is the 8th highest paid coach in college b-ball, and that was before he signed a new extension after the tourney last year. Next

 

[zls44]

Billy Donovan isn't totally impossible. Highly unlikely. But he might listen.

 

[uconngb]

Billy Donovan isn't totally impossible. Highly unlikely. But he might listen.

Donovan makes over $4mm a year, and has won 2 NC's....why is he coming to UConn?

 

[Dogbreath2U]

We could go the "more angry and scary" route and land Frank Martin.

a little too psycho for my tastes. Imagine how he will be as he ages.....angrier, scarier, and psycho-ier. "Don't have a baby with a dog collar" and don't have a coach crazier that the one we have now.

 

[Kitaman]

Stop this thread!! We were first talking about the games this season that JC will be out. Now its railroaded to replacing him permanently and he's still our coach.

There will be a time for that, but not on the very day he announced he's ill. Its disrespectful, Husky nation and certainly bad mojo for Coach!

 

[RuffRuff]

One has to wonder how the Big East falling apart will impact the marketability of the role. That has to be a factor in how the role will be perceived. With Cuse/Pitt/Wv and potentially Louisville on the way out, we are looking at a program in a conference that is a shell and a drastically reduced part of the allure. I'm not sure if I'm a coach with future options I take on the insecurity as it will effect recruiting / I think that's a major hit.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=41.192696,-73.128234

 

[uconNYC]

One has to wonder how the Big East falling apart will impact the marketability of the role. That has to be a factor in how the role will be perceived. With Cuse/Pitt/Wv and potentially Louisville on the way out, we are looking at a program in a conference that is a shell and a drastically reduced part of the allure. I'm not sure if I'm a coach with future options I take on the insecurity as it will effect recruiting / I think that's a major hit.

Basketball is very different than football. Even without SU and Pitt, the BE is a top 3 conference. People are saying Sean Miller will never leave Arizona - well at best the PAC12 is the 10th best conference in the country.

 

[Ts5034]

Kevin Ollie WILL be the coach when Calhoun retires. I just cant see them hiring an outsider, thats who JC wants and im sure he will get his way. Brad Stevens is not coming here either so get that idea out of your head. If he was leaving Butler he would have bailed by now. If by some crazy chance they decided not to hire Ollie, then Sean Milller would be my choice. Im sure he would love to be closer to home and have a chance to coach in the Big East.

 

[Chief00]

Quite frankly, in Calhoun's absence I would get a waiver and have Hobbs coach. Ollie may be come a great coach but I would go with Hobbs right now.

 

[uconngb]

Stop this thread!! We were first talking about the games this season that JC will be out. Now its railroaded to replacing him permanently and he's still our coach.

There will be a time for that, but not on the very day he announced he's ill. Its disrespectful, Husky nation and certainly bad mojo for Coach!

go back and read the OP and tell me how it is disrespectful or offensive in any way.

 

[UCweCONN]

just because he doesn't jump up and down and scream and yell, doesn't mean the game's passed him by. there is more then one style of coaching. if you say that he can't recruit 18 yr olds, that's one thing, but he can certainly game coach.

There is no right or wrong kind of coach per se. However, a coach can be the wrong kind of coach for a given team. If you have a team with strong leaders (for example, the Bulls with Jordan), you don't need a high energy, emotional, or disciplinarian type of coach because the players know what to do on the court. For the passionate, tough team with strong on court leadership, the quiet stategist type of coach can provide game tactics and trust the players to execute the game plan.

However, when you have an underperforming team with no real floor leaders who struggle as a unit, you need a coach to lead and be highly involved in the game action, even get in guy's faces if necessary. Even with this type of coach, the team still may not succeed but at least it will have a chance. A coach should embody the characteristics you want your players to display, toughness, passion, etc., not one who mirrors the negative aspects your team already possesses.

The issue isn't that Blaney is a bad coach, but that he is wrong for this team.