I was just thinking, what if.....

[watanabe]

DT would garner instant support regardless if she "follows" Geno.
Just watching her stomp the sidelines would be priceless

 

[j66kicker]

Bill Laimbeer?

 

[billnaples]

Of course but sticking to the spirit of 'what if?' what coaches outside the UConn family would you suggest?

Nothing is ever a certainty until it happens. That said I would be blown away if CD does not walk away with Geno. She certainly has the tools to take the program post Geno but I just can't see that team not going out together, With all due respect to the talents of Taurasi I just can't see her as a coach. Almost no one can match her skill set on the floor but she has no basis to be a head coach, at any level. Shea and Jen would be much stronger choices. But all in all a long way off

 

[Zorro]

Of course but sticking to the spirit of 'what if?' what coaches outside the UConn family would you suggest?

oK. If I have to pick an outsider; McGuff.

 

[CL82]

I doubt Diana will coach. I think it is likely that she'll become a media personality. I think that she'd be amazing at it. In the pro bball world she is respected by both female and male players.

When you have a strong sense of family, your best bet is stay within the family, if a suitable choice is available.

1. CD, if she's willing to stay.
2. Shea, especially if she hasn't already taken another HC gig.

Don't underestimate the value of continuity.

 

[rvwsleep]

Whoever it is, they will have to bring more than just replicating the current X's and O's. If you had someone else recite Geno's directions verbatim, they wouldn't have the same effect and you wouldn't get the same results. It's a combination of 30 years experience, personality, gravitas and the unconditional belief in the coaches ability to turn the team into a success (and this generally happens BEFORE they step foot on campus !) that cannot be duplicated.
To come close to Geno, we will need someone who is more than just one of his disciples.

 

[connboy77]

I would have said Jen, but I think her time has come and gone. Shea would be an excellent choice to take over after Geno retires.

 

[meyers7]

I gotta go with Uconn34.

I was gonna suggest meyers7.

 

[Beemer]

IMO keeping it in the family for the sake of keeping it in the family isn't the right way to go. UConn should hire the best coach available at that time. If he/she happens to be a UConn grad, great. If not, that's fine too.

The object is to keep the UConn WCBB team the best in the nation.

 

[CL82]

IMO keeping it in the family for the sake of keeping it in the family isn't the right way to go. UConn should hire the best coach available at that time. If he/she happens to be a UConn grad, great. If not, that's fine too.

The object is to keep the UConn WCBB team the best in the nation.

I don't disagree in theory, but

1) UConn is light years ahead of the field right now. Why choose someone from the pack to bring in their vision, which has been less successful than our current approach?

2) Don't underestimate the value of family. The connection between past players and the program has huge value to UConn. Going in house has more potential to continue that, rather than bringing in a new face who has no relationship to our past players.

3) Continuity matters. The rest of woman's college basketball will certainly, and justifiably, see Geno's retirement as an opportunity. Having Shea, for example, step into the role allows us to cournter that arguement, with a business as usual narrative.

4) While an imperfect analogy, what Kevin Ollie has done on the men's side may become the text book way to continue a legacy. He's doubled down on the UConn brand by having an all UConn family staff. It can be done.

 

[Zorro]

Diana would without doubt be a great tv personality. BUT would that satisfy her need for competition? I would think that from a standpoint of personal satisfaction, she would prefer to lead the Huskies to a few more NCs.