Jay Williams Tweet

[Towney007]

Am I the only one who finds the whole firing for 'cause' thing kind of an orchestrated ploy from the University?

Because sure - there's arbitration and some legal nonsense - but with the investigation - it probably drags out. And for UConn the best scenario in a weird way is a small infraction that they can slap on Ollie to get out of the buy out without having a short term commitment to his money. They're framing cause and using it as an instrument to buy time to hopefully get out of the buy out. But if they had to buy him out, they obviously would. But it buys them time to hopefully wiggle out of it.

You can question the ethics of it all, but that's what it strikes me as being.

 

[Guapo]

Look, maybe I've just lived outside of Connecticut long enough to not be so defensive about these things but...

Why do you guys care so much about what someone tweets?

Furthermore, I think the coverage of the firing has largely been fair.

 

[Robertelamin]

"The paint was already on the wall" so sounds like an Ollieism.

 

[Danzz]

It'll interesting to see how this pans out. I tend to agree with J Williams regarding JC's convo with Hurley, although there is no crime in that. It's obvious KO has not performed well as the coach imo. Yeah, the National Championship - but I felt like he got lucky at the right moment and the right players he inherited; and the coaching staff there already. He parlayed that with NBA interest to a huge deal, and subsequently did a horrible job. He really doesn't deserve his current salary much less any future money imo. However the contract was in place and hope it works to for UCONN financially.

Hurley brought in JC a few times for a motivation talk. I wouldn't make too much of it. It does provide an opportunity for JC to sell UConn to Hurley.
Unless there is a real reason for UConn to fight the buyout, KO deserves to be paid according to the terms of the contract. Nobody forced UConn to sign the contract.

 

[willie99]

He may be right, I have to wait and see what just cause is. If it's about workouts of kids who were cleared to play and / or some affair violating some moral clause, Kevin will get paid something

If it's about serious violations, Kevin's not getting paid, and it ain't rocket science either

My guess is it's not the later, because I don't think Kevin or the Union beat a dead horse, but they may just to get something

 

[Sonova]

Hurley brought in JC a few times for a motivation talk. I wouldn't make too much of it. It does provide an opportunity for JC to sell UConn to Hurley.
Unless there is a real reason for UConn to fight the buyout, KO deserves to be paid according to the terms of the contract. Nobody forced UConn to sign the contract.

The real reason is that UConn wants him gone and Ollie has given them a reason/way to do it for less than $10m. Nobody forced KO to sign that contract either, btw. And he hasn’t lived up to the letter of the contract that would support him getting paid the full amount. He has absolutely committed violations within the very wide “for clause” component. If the argument is that they were not of a magnitude to constitute his dismissal....maybe (especially if he was winning on the court), but that’s purely subjective until a court would get involved and possibly rule otherwise. And UConn would have a strong argument that the contract states that ANY violation is a breach. Either way, that legal argument is a costly and lengthy process that Benedict is betting won’t play out as at some point Ollie’s attorneys are going to advise him to take a reduced buyout or risk walking away with no money and a pile of legal fees. The truth, whether anyone likes it or not, is that Ollie’s only claim to being wronged is if he were 100% clean of ANY violations within the contract that allow for his dismissal - NCAA, character-related or otherwise. He isn’t. Combine that with being an awful coach and here we are. Like it or not, Ollie put himself is this situation both on and off the court.

 

[Stinger92860]

Jay Williams is a big KO fan. That's all it is - he's covering for his guy. He'll never mention the crap job KO has done the last 2 years.

I find the Hurley thing interesting - what's he implying, that UConn asked Calhoun to check with Hurley on his interest in being the next head coach? I assume the answer to that is yes?

I am a big KO fan too. I just don’t want him coaching my team.

 

[Marty Jackson]

The school is playing hardball. you don't start by asking Ollie if he would accept $9M. By starting the range at $0, the school is sending a clear message. Ollie can stick to his $10M, but if there is anything amiss from his contract, it gets harder for him.

 

[gtcam]

Williams has been very critical of KO and the UConn performance this year on several talk shows as has J Bilas, Tom Crean, Seth Greenburg and others. The only one who tried to sugar coat KO was Dickie V
In fact he said yesterday that he could understand KO being let go for performance reasons but the just cause stuff looks like to him like a school trying to save money - the other host (can't remember his name" smiled and said - "we'll see as this unfolds but right now Kevin Ollie is out at UConn and they are now searching for a new person to get the program back on it's feet"

 

[bazzketball13]

If that’s what you want to believe.

Believe? It was stated in an article from one of the beat reporters.

 

[gtcam]

The real reason is that UConn wants him gone and Ollie has given them a reason/way to do it for less than $10m. And he hasn’t lived up to the letter of the contract that would support him getting paid the full amount. He has absolutely committed violations within the very wide “for clause” component. If the argument is that they were not of a magnitude to constitute his dismissal....maybe (especially if he was winning on the court), but that’s purely subjective until a court would get involved and possibly rule otherwise. And UConn would have a strong argument that the contract states that ANY violation is a breach. Either way, that legal argument is a costly and lengthy process that Benedict is betting won’t play out as at some point Ollie’s attorneys are going to advise him to take a reduced buyout or risk walking away with no money and a pile of legal fees. The truth, whether anyone likes it or not, is that Ollie’s only claim to being wronged is if he were 100% clean of ANY violations within the contract that allow for his dismissal - NCAA, character-related or otherwise. He isn’t. Combine that with being an awful coach and here we are. Like it or not, Ollie put himself is this situation both on and off the court.

I'm sorry, are you on the UConn special council team looking into this and after a few drinks you forgot the adage loose lips sink ships?
If not how the hell can you say that with such certainty?
He may have committed some violations, he may not have
You are mixing your dislike for the man for his win/loss record (and I can understand that) with pure speculation to further your case. You talk like you sat in that room with AD David Benedict
Nobody forced KO to sign that contract either, btw. Yeah - find me one coach in their right mind who wouldn't sign that contract - LMAO

 

[djct1999]

Pay no attention to ESPN. Often times, they are the most uninformed. If they aren't pushing their agenda, they have no idea what they are talking about.

 

[jorge34]

I'm sorry, are you on the UConn special council team looking into this and after a few drinks you forgot the adage loose lips sink ships?
If not how the hell can you say that with such certainty?
He may have committed some violations, he may not have
You are mixing your dislike for the man for his win/loss record (and I can understand that) with pure speculation to further your case. You talk like you sat in that room with AD David Benedict
Nobody forced KO to sign that contract either, btw. Yeah - find me one coach in their right mind who wouldn't sign that contract - LMAO

Pretty sure he was referring to the clause relating to any violation being grounds for just cause dismissal, not the monetary value.

 

[dennismenace]

People on this board are kidding themselves if they don't think we look like huge weasels trying to get out of this contract.

If it's something egregious, then fine. But if they're trying to wiggle free based on some technicality then it's a really bad look for the school.

As has been said here before it could be a negotiating tactic if KO refused a negotiated buyout. We just don't know.
No way they are going to offer him a $10 mil. walk with whatever they have for just cause. Atty for some west coast university (somewhere on the BY today) said the language of KO's contract does not help him because the "just cause" clause is very vague and favors the University. I don't really think this University would deliberately try to cheat him out of any negotiated settlement without having some pretty "just causes". That would go against the schools reputation and I think they are very conscious about that. They have made some bad personnel decisions but bad faith has never been part of the equation here. I think this will cool off and be resolved fairly quickly along with a new coach deal. It's in everyone's best interest. Looking forward to the changes and really, really hope for the best for KO. I don't know all or even some of the background other than what I can see. I think the divorce thing has been very unsettling to him and I really hope he can recover from all of this and be the person he was destined to be. He has not seemed to be himself for the past few years. I think he has a lot of heart and his determination in the past has taken him places. He probably needs to sort all this out and rebound.

 

[GemParty]

When the NCAA finally announces what their investigation & problems with UConn are, who's problem
Is it? The schools or Ollie? Maybe both.

Right now, the schools using that as leverage. Divorces are ugly. This will be Ollies second.

 

[Walker11]

They have made some bad personnel decisions but bad faith has never been part of the equation here.

This seems like the absolute definition of bad faith. No one would care about KOs partying if he was winning. They are too poor to care about reputation.

Don't get me wrong, KO deserved to be fired but this is bush league.

 

[Sonova]

I'm sorry, are you on the UConn special council team looking into this and after a few drinks you forgot the adage loose lips sink ships?
If not how the hell can you say that with such certainty?
He may have committed some violations, he may not have
You are mixing your dislike for the man for his win/loss record (and I can understand that) with pure speculation to further your case. You talk like you sat in that room with AD David Benedict
Nobody forced KO to sign that contract either, btw. Yeah - find me one coach in their right mind who wouldn't sign that contract - LMAO

OK. I’ll get right on that.

 

[billybud]

I tend to think that it's just business.

....KO had to go because of performance

.....KO had a $10 million buy out

.....Threaten the fire for "just cause" and then that gives some leverage for a settlement...UConn could save millions with the strategy.

....Business decision

 

[dennismenace]

This seems like the absolute definition of bad faith. No one would care about KOs partying if he was winning. They are too poor to care about reputation.

Don't get me wrong, KO deserved to be fired but this is bush league.

I don't think anyone on this board are privy to what the administration has for facts on "just cause" and to speculate on that is just that....speculation. In addition, if you read my post, they may have (speculation) offered some buyout arrangement(s) that KO is not accepting. Hence, the firing with zero payout. Many have suggested that this may all be posturing but like the "just cause" we just don't know. In fact, depending on negotiations we may never know and that is OK.

 

[TheRogers]

That’s great news. Ground work for Hurley already started. Watched a show about him last night on E60. He obviously looks for counsel from his dad. Not a bad resource especially in talent evaluation. I think UCONN will be the first school he would coach with a legit tradition of winning NC.

 

[hoopsknowitall]

People on this board are kidding themselves if they don't think we look like huge weasels trying to get out of this contract.

If it's something egregious, then fine. But if they're trying to wiggle free based on some technicality then it's a really bad look for the school.

I agree with what you’re saying but Ollie had to know that he was on the thinnest of ice with UCONN already what with his lousy record and the NCAA snooping around. And yet he still managed to have two of his top players almost getting suspended for the initial tournament game.

I was on board for keeping Ollie onboard for next year due to the payoff but that was the last straw. He’s clueless I think...

 

[uconngb]

I tend to think that it's just business.

....KO had to go because of performance

.....KO had a $10 million buy out

.....Threaten the fire for "just cause" and then that gives some leverage for a settlement...UConn could save millions with the strategy.

....Business decision

The fact that so many people on this board don't understand this tells me just how far this forum has devolved. There is nothing personal here. No vendetta to make KO look like a criminal. It is now a business negotiation, plain and simple. Could it get ugly? Yes. But divorces often are. Both sides are looking out for their best interests, it will end up getting settled.

And I guarantee it will have NO impact on any future coach considering whether to come here or not. You see it happening at Pitt in real time, it's happening w Pitino at Louisville and it would happen everywhere else in the same situation. No school is just going to say "we'll pay you out" and no coach is going to say "never mind the buyout, you keep your money." Why is this so hard for people to understand?

 

[Horatio]

Can someone explain what a "impermissible
workout" means in regards to Larrier and Jalen. Was it NBA related?

 

[scotty0330]

Can someone explain what a "impermissible
workout" means in regards to Larrier and Jalen. Was it NBA related?

Context I know is important here. At Louisville it means something entirely different.

 

[jibsey]

The fact that so many people on this board don't understand this tells me just how far this forum has devolved. There is nothing personal here. No vendetta to make KO look like a criminal. It is now a business negotiation, plain and simple. Could it get ugly? Yes. But divorces often are. Both sides are looking out for their best interests, it will end up getting settled.

And I guarantee it will have NO impact on any future coach considering whether to come here or not. You see it happening at Pitt in real time, it's happening w Pitino at Louisville and it would happen everywhere else in the same situation. No school is just going to say "we'll pay you out" and no coach is going to say "never mind the buyout, you keep your money." Why is this so hard for people to understand?

I agree, and depending on the violation whether it’s big or small, it will help determine the final payout numbers. If he committed no infraction how can they not pay him?

 

[GemParty]

Can the school/Ollies lawyers request the NCAA promptly wrap up or release facts of their investigation, because a $10 million dollar payout is largely related to those findings?

 

[intlzncster]

Can the school/Ollies lawyers request the NCAA promptly wrap up or release facts of their investigation, because a $10 million dollar payout is largely related to those findings?

Not a lawyer, but no way.

 

[Storrs South]

Can the school/Ollies lawyers request the NCAA promptly wrap up or release facts of their investigation, because a $10 million dollar payout is largely related to those findings?

“There isn’t a burden of proof established in the contract on what the university must prove to show just cause so that gives them some leverage,” Jessop said. “The contract is not favorable to Ollie unless he is vindicated by the NCAA investigation.”

Jessop said the contract also doesn’t have a timeline saying when the university must act, of that it must wait for the NCAA to complete its investigation.

“They can arguably get out of the contract well before the NCAA ever concludes its investigation,” Jessop said.

Kevin Ollie Fired After UConn Claims 'Just Cause'; Coach Says He Will Fight

 

[ElmCity40th]

Jay Williams is a corny ... we all know KO got fired for on court results and that the "just cause " thing is all business...to name drop our hof coach who built this like he was doing something shiesty is wrong... he's protecting UCONN like you and Bilas are protecting Grayson Allen's punk ...keep Calhoun's name out your mouth batch!!!

 

[AdamaNation]

Lame