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I'm not from CT and didn't arrive here till shortly after JC became UConn's MBB HC. He’s all I’ve ever known. Although we saw Blaney fill in a few times over the past few years, it’s hard to imagine seeing someone else standing along the sideline coaching UConn to greatness. Like many of you, I’ve had my criticism, though always lived by the motto In-JC-I-Trust! Hard to argue with the methods of a man who’s won 3 NCs. My criticisms for the most part have been small and infrequent. I thought he deployed the wrong offense (dribble penetration with that high screen over-and-over again) last season based on the personnel that no longer had Kemba Walker. Though early on when Bazz was healthy it looked good. And if they had also had Boatright the entire season alone with Bazz, it might have been more effective. I just felt a more motion offense that he used with the 99 team, would have been more suited for last year’s personnel. Who knows, maybe no matter what offense they used, the team would have struggled, and maybe even worse. But I digress…
Like the rest of Boneyard nation, I’m going to miss him. Few coaches have created, not only something out of nothing (National program out of what was a perennial regional program), but created a family culture, which is clearly demonstrated by how the players talk about JC, talk to JC regularly and the number of Huskies that show up year after year for his Alumni game, which I hope continues with him on the sideline. He has made the program “our” program. Although the players change year after year, I find myself embracing most of these teams on a deeper level than I do any other sports team. I’ve met a few of the players over the years, interviewed some of the past incoming recruits, but it’s not like any of them have come close to acquaintances, but nonetheless I feel like closely attached. I’m sure many of you feel likewise, and much of this is due to the family culture that JC created and that I strongly believe KO will continue.
Like most things in life, they have to run their course. The JC era has ended but it’s not without a legacy of greatness that we all hope will continue under Kevin Ollie. I’m going to miss the fiery crusty ol’ Irishman who is a fellow Greater Bostonian. I found it funny how many found him hard to understand. Frankly, I had not problems, though I grew up in his neck of the woods. As much I didn’t like, though shamefully laughed sometimes, when he stomped his way out to half-court and escorted the latest object of his wrath to the bench, I’d give a lot to just see that one more time. Many of the memories recounted in the other threads will forever be imprinted on my mind. He was never a coach that celebrated his own accomplishments, but instead celebrated the accomplishments of his players and the program itself. Jim Calhoun will forever be synonymous with UConn Hoops.
I know many are very sad, but for whatever reason, my sadness has been minimal. I think it is due to “hope”! I’m excited about ushering in the KO era. I know some of you are very concerned about his lack of head coaching experience and the overall unknowns that come with a young coach, but I think he’s going to be someone special. Taking a snippet from a reply in another thread, I wrote about KO:
Hopefully Ollie is and/or will grow into an elite coach in all areas: player development, team development, game preparation, in-game adjustments, motivation, etc. Although I don’t see him as a screamer, I think he’s going to be a good one who will get the most out of his players. Knowing that he was an overachiever who knew he had to work harder than the next guy to succeed in the NBA, I can’t imagine he’s not going to excel at instilling the same in his players. He’s not your typical good guy that sometimes can’t get that extra out of his players. I think he’s going to be special. I just hope the program gives him a few years to prove it.
I’m choosing to celebrate our beloved HOF coach JC for who he is and all he did for our program, but also be excited about ushering in the KO era.
Like the rest of Boneyard nation, I’m going to miss him. Few coaches have created, not only something out of nothing (National program out of what was a perennial regional program), but created a family culture, which is clearly demonstrated by how the players talk about JC, talk to JC regularly and the number of Huskies that show up year after year for his Alumni game, which I hope continues with him on the sideline. He has made the program “our” program. Although the players change year after year, I find myself embracing most of these teams on a deeper level than I do any other sports team. I’ve met a few of the players over the years, interviewed some of the past incoming recruits, but it’s not like any of them have come close to acquaintances, but nonetheless I feel like closely attached. I’m sure many of you feel likewise, and much of this is due to the family culture that JC created and that I strongly believe KO will continue.
Like most things in life, they have to run their course. The JC era has ended but it’s not without a legacy of greatness that we all hope will continue under Kevin Ollie. I’m going to miss the fiery crusty ol’ Irishman who is a fellow Greater Bostonian. I found it funny how many found him hard to understand. Frankly, I had not problems, though I grew up in his neck of the woods. As much I didn’t like, though shamefully laughed sometimes, when he stomped his way out to half-court and escorted the latest object of his wrath to the bench, I’d give a lot to just see that one more time. Many of the memories recounted in the other threads will forever be imprinted on my mind. He was never a coach that celebrated his own accomplishments, but instead celebrated the accomplishments of his players and the program itself. Jim Calhoun will forever be synonymous with UConn Hoops.
I know many are very sad, but for whatever reason, my sadness has been minimal. I think it is due to “hope”! I’m excited about ushering in the KO era. I know some of you are very concerned about his lack of head coaching experience and the overall unknowns that come with a young coach, but I think he’s going to be someone special. Taking a snippet from a reply in another thread, I wrote about KO:
Hopefully Ollie is and/or will grow into an elite coach in all areas: player development, team development, game preparation, in-game adjustments, motivation, etc. Although I don’t see him as a screamer, I think he’s going to be a good one who will get the most out of his players. Knowing that he was an overachiever who knew he had to work harder than the next guy to succeed in the NBA, I can’t imagine he’s not going to excel at instilling the same in his players. He’s not your typical good guy that sometimes can’t get that extra out of his players. I think he’s going to be special. I just hope the program gives him a few years to prove it.
I’m choosing to celebrate our beloved HOF coach JC for who he is and all he did for our program, but also be excited about ushering in the KO era.
