KO - Victim of discrimination and denied due process?

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

The one problem with your premise is...He was a key assistant on a team getting ready for probation. He was not hired, he was given a one year term at under 1 mill per year(I could look it up, but I want to say 600K, which was woefully underpaid for UConn). So there's that.

Perhaps if truly viewed as being woefully underpaid for UConn, but was anyone forced to accept $600K or so with likely potential for an increase? At the time, an individual with zero head coaching experience, no experience running an entire program, etc. signed a contract versus a predecessor with a few decades such experience, 3 national championships, multiple true Big East conference championships, etc. "So there's that" to consider when suggesting $600K represented woeful underpayment, relative salary comparisons, etc.

 

[Chief00]

Perhaps, no one forced anyone to accept $600K or so with likely potential for an increase if truly viewed as being woefully underpaid for UConn. At the time, an individual with zero head coaching experience, no experience running an entire program, etc. versus a predecessor with a few decades such experience, 3 national championships, multiple true Big East conference championships, etc. "So there's that" to consider when suggesting $600K represented woeful underpayment.

It was like a 300% raise - but more so a great opportunity.

 

[DMIL]

Plus, oil, black gold, Texas T right on UT's campus and other UT-owned properties versus not many petro dollars generated by Connecticut shale oil in the Land of Steady Habits

You’re kind of making a bigger point here that is larger than K.O.’s contract and that is money. This goes back to the old Administration and UCONN not being accepted to a Power 5 conference. This goes back to the debacle of UCONN football after Randy Edsall left with two horrible subsequent hires. All that needed to happen was to keep UCONN basketball status quo, continue the momentum built under Randy Edsall and get into a P5. UCONN missed on the P5, missed on 2 subsequent football coaching hires and UCONN basketballbecame at risk.

They’ve stabilized UCONN men’s basketball with Hurley, possibly stabilized UCONN football with the Edsall rehire but still need to settle the K.O. contract matter and get into a power conference. The TV money, bowl money, event attendance money is all needed. Money is the underlying issue here. Without it the school is relying on a whole lot of luck. Just wait until Geno retires. Money is the root issue here and this is the arena of the Administration to fix.

 

[husky8273]

Money is the root issue here and this is the arena of the Administration to fix.

...and with a new President, Foundation head and Governor to do it.....

 

[CL82]

The elephant in the room is that UCONN doesn’t have the $10M so it utilized “Cause”.

So you are saying an institution with $4B in assets and over a billion in revenue "didn't have $10M"? Seriously?

Of course UConn has $10M but giving to an employee who had no right to it under his contract, which I think we can all now agree, would have been recklessly irresponsible.

[UConn needs] to settle the K.O. contract matter and get into a power conference.

No, the Ollie contract is entirely irrelevant to getting into a P5 conference, well except that terminating it was critical to keeping our men's basketball program a viable product.

 

[intlzncster]

It’s not a comparison however if the Administration makes the move that it did regarding terminating K.O.s contract then that is the playbook. The elephant in the room is that UCONN doesn’t have the $10M so it utilized “Cause”. They may have some of it but not all of it. This is the reason for the blow back. It smells, it stinks. It’s a tough deal all around the board. If you are not prepared to pay a contract that is offered and accepted then don’t offer the contract. Simple. University of Texas did what it had to do and like I stated before eventually did not have to cover the entire buyout amount because Charlie immediately got a job. That is how it’s supposed to work. You can even take Dwayne Casey when he was coaching the Toronto Raptors. He gets the number 1 seed in the playoffs and gets ousted. They terminate his contract, buy him out and he immediately gets a head coaching job with the Detroit Pistons. This is big boy Athletics so you gotta think about these contracts and worse case scenario.

If UCONN has a money problem then it is up to the leaders of the state and the AD to fix. That is why they are in those positions. This is big boy Athletics.

That's all well and good, but UCONN didn't have the money, and had a contract signed. With those two things as given, they proceeded as they could. UT isn't the model because UCONN doesn't have those kinds of resources. Never will. We aren't in the same league as UT both figuratively and literally.

 

[fatlucy]

So you are saying an institution with $4B in assets and over a billion in revenue "didn't have $10M"? Seriously?

Of course UConn has $10M but giving to an employee who had no right to it under his contract, which I think we can all now agree, would have been recklessly irresponsible.


No, the Ollie contract is entirely irrelevant to getting into a P5 conference, well except that terminating it was critical to keeping our men's basketball program a viable product.

If anything it’s a positive. We’re fiscally responsible. Paying him would be criminal. He didn’t earn it. He broke the rules. He’s in violation of his contract. He doesn’t get paid.

 

[Goat]

What do you think the effective $$$$ delta will be?

I think he needs to get more than half the $10 M and the university has to state that they found no basis to support the Miller assertion that he bribed a players mom. How about they play him all of it and he gives some back as a donation?

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

...and with a new President, Foundation head and Governor to do it.....

New Foundation head? Whoa Nellie, Josh Newton's also returning to Emory after successfully raising a targeted $400 million goal.

For UConn, a whole lot of changes in store (and Storrs)! For example, the Board of Trustees finally has a new Chairman and both the school President and Foundation head vacancies to fill.

 

[Goat]

Who knows man....with contenders in the conference weaker, a healthy Gilbert, incoming recruits, battle tested underclassmen, Sid Wilson a couple descent grad transfers and a returning Jalen Adams it is foreseeable that this group would win an additional 5 games minimum than in the prior year. I think the floor was at least 21 games and the ceiling probably a top 2 to 3 in conference including competing for the regular season and conference tournament title with an NCAA birth and 24 to 25. Remember...there were 4 to 5 games last year that UCONN every opportunity to win and didn’t. Blame coaching, youth, inexperience it doesn’t matter. The team under performed for a lot of reasons meaning they weren’t as bad as their record suggested. To your point...who was willing to take that chance and here we are.

I think Benedict wanted Hurley and knew this was his opportunity. Hurley wanted the job and he was leaving RI now. I'm not so sure how many other up and coming coaches would choose UConn in the AAC over a Power 5 school.

UConn obviously had the right to fire Ollie and leave fans to argue whether he deserved another year. But, the manner in which he was fired seems imo imperious and desperate.

 

[DMIL]

So you are saying an institution with $4B in assets and over a billion in revenue "didn't have $10M"? Seriously?

Of course UConn has $10M but giving to an employee who had no right to it under his contract, which I think we can all now agree, would have been recklessly irresponsible.


No, the Ollie contract is entirely irrelevant to getting into a P5 conference, well except that terminating it was critical to keeping our men's basketball program a viable product.

Well o.k. then. If they have the ****in’ money this should’ve been settled by now. What the hell are they waiting for? Why all the talk of boosters supporting a buyout to get Hurley? Sure he has a right to it. The dispute is legitimate.

This is really news to me that UCONN is totally flush with cash!!! Breaking news ladies and gentleman. The UCONN Administration has purposely decided to take us through this “ish” storm just for the hell of it to teach K.O. A lesson.

Sure....if we’re so flush with cash then why all the bitchin’ about getting into a P5? All the state budget talk. All the discussion about TV deals. If we’re so flush with cash then why not just go independent since we’re flush like the Norte Dame’s of the world.

No wonder K.O. is so “GD” upset and hurt among other things. He’s going through this like “Give me my ********n money.

 

[DMIL]

That's all well and good, but UCONN didn't have the money, and had a contract signed. With those two things as given, they proceeded as they could. UT isn't the model because UCONN doesn't have those kinds of resources. Never will. We aren't in the same league as UT both figuratively and literally.

And that is precisely the point. You don’t put a contract out there you can’t back up worse case scenario without tearing someone’s reputation apart. I don’t recall if he got a 5 year or 6 year extension but this could have been a 2 to 3 year extension and let him walk if we couldn’t afford it. I understand why they gave him the extension. At some point Hurley is going to be due an extension so we better figure this money thing out. Some folks on this board think we’re flush with cash.

 

[DMIL]

I think Benedict wanted Hurley and knew this was his opportunity. Hurley wanted the job and he was leaving RI now. I'm not so sure how many other up and coming coaches would choose UConn in the AAC over a Power 5 school.

UConn obviously had the right to fire Ollie and leave fans to argue whether he deserved another year. But, the manner in which he was fired seems imo imperious and desperate.

Spot on and there was plenty of support from the hard core base to pursue Hurley so that was the AD’s cover.

 

[superjohn]

And that is precisely the point. You don’t put a contract out there you can’t back up worse case scenario without tearing someone’s reputation apart. I don’t recall if he got a 5 year or 6 year extension but this could have been a 2 to 3 year extension and let him walk if we couldn’t afford it. I understand why they gave him the extension. At some point Hurley is going to be due an extension so we better figure this money thing out. Some folks on this board think we’re flush with cash.

You've posted dozens of times in all of these threads and you still don't understand Ollie's contract, it's really strange.

 

[DMIL]

You've posted dozens of times in all of these threads and you still don't understand Ollie's contract, it's really strange.

I understand it but I also understand that the dispute is legitimate.

 

[superjohn]

I understand it but I also understand that the dispute is legitimate.

Then why do you keep saying he earned his contract, pay the man. don't offer a contract you can't afford to pay etc.?

 

[DMIL]

Then why do you keep saying he earned his contract, pay the man. don't offer a contract you can't afford to pay etc.?

What I’m really saying is I don’t agree with them using “Cause” for their reason of terminating K.O.s contract. Buy him out or find a way to settle for performance. I also didn’t say he earned his contract.

 

[Mokum]

He's trying to get the money that he feels he's owed. That's it. Whether you agree or disagree that he's owed that money, that's what he's trying to do. It's not about being ungrateful, its not about taking anyone down. I don't even know where you get that.

He commited NCAA violations. His contract says he may not do that. He is acting purely out of self interest. His posturing about love of Uconn , bleeding blue etc. is BS. I realize 10 million is a lot of money. I also don't think KO is worried about where his next meal is coming from. He will get another job more than likely. Time for him to move on. Do the honorable thing, admit "I messed up, I did a lousy job, and the buck stops with me. I would like the ten million, but I am not going to sell my soul for it." Now we are hearing about " well JC did stuff, you want me to bring that out in the open? He is hurting the school , the program and the man who gave him this opportunity. I would say he is bringing others down the toilet with him.

 

[Mokum]

You are so dead on Chief! If the university was so racist, why did they hire a black coach in the first place? Why did they allow him to transform his staff into an entirely black staff? He benefitted from a lack of due process and a lack of racism and now he is whining about due process and claiming racism. Dead.to.me.

Claiming racism. That is a low blow and pure BS. He should be ashamed.

 

[Paesano]

What I’m really saying is I don’t agree with them using “Cause” for their reason of terminating K.O.s contract. Buy him out or find a way to settle for performance. I also didn’t say he earned his contract.

UConn tried to settle. He refused. In my mind he deserves nothing now. Zero. Zip. Zilch.

And if he goes full rat he deserves to be sued and kicked out of the state for life.

He will get zero if he continues this. He will lose. Benedict will win. Herbst will win. UConn will win. Your buddy is being a fool.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Well o.k. then. If they have the ****in’ money this should’ve been settled by now. What the hell are they waiting for? Why all the talk of boosters supporting a buyout to get Hurley? Sure he has a right to it. The dispute is legitimate.

This is really news to me that UCONN is totally flush with cash!!! Breaking news ladies and gentleman. The UCONN Administration has purposely decided to take us through this “ish” storm just for the hell of it to teach K.O. A lesson.

Sure....if we’re so flush with cash then why all the bitchin’ about getting into a P5? All the state budget talk. All the discussion about TV deals. If we’re so flush with cash then why not just go independent since we’re flush like the Norte Dame’s of the world.

No wonder K.O. is so “GD” upset and hurt among other things. He’s going through this like “Give me my ********n money.

Why haven't the settled? There are two sides to that coin. Why hasn't Ollie settled? My lawyer take when this happens is that there is an obvious cause. UConn really likes its changes of paying Ollie nothing. They think that is the likely outcome. Ollie is being emotional about this and is likely negotiating to some imaginary number that he thinks he needs or deserves. If he persists with that mindset, he is likely to walk about with big six figure legal bills and not a penny of new income. He's being stupid here and is getting bad legal advice or is ignoring good legal advice.

Obviously the UConn Athletic department is in some financial difficulty. It doesn't want to spend money on an ex coach. I don't blame them.

 

[Paesano]

What I’m really saying is I don’t agree with them using “Cause” for their reason of terminating K.O.s contract. Buy him out or find a way to settle for performance. I also didn’t say he earned his contract.

The next time you see KO, ask him what he remembers from this game:

UCLA vs. Connecticut Box Score, March 25, 1995 | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

My guess is he remembers seeing the back if Tyus Edney's jersey.

This case will end like that game did.

 

[kemba]

He commited NCAA violations. His contract says he may not do that. He is acting purely out of self interest. His posturing about love of Uconn , bleeding blue etc. is BS. I realize 10 million is a lot of money. I also don't think KO is worried about where his next meal is coming from. He will get another job more than likely. Time for him to move on. Do the honorable thing, admit "I messed up, I did a lousy job, and the buck stops with me. I would like the ten million, but I am not going to sell my soul for it." Now we are hearing about " well JC did stuff, you want me to bring that out in the open? He is hurting the school , the program and the man who gave him this opportunity. I would say he is bringing others down the toilet with him.

Huh? We aren't hearing that. They've referenced that the university stood by Calhoun for violations, violations that were already investigated and we were punished for. But the idea that he is going to bring up unknown violations and secrets from Calhoun's time is nothing but a boneyard fantasy.

You can love your time as a student, player, and coach at a school while disagreeing with how the current administration is treating you. It's not BS

 

[Danzz]

“..white noise..” Really? Speaking of racism

Unintended but good catch.

 

[DMIL]

He commited NCAA violations. His contract says he may not do that. He is acting purely out of self interest. His posturing about love of Uconn , bleeding blue etc. is BS. I realize 10 million is a lot of money. I also don't think KO is worried about where his next meal is coming from. He will get another job more than likely. Time for him to move on. Do the honorable thing, admit "I messed up, I did a lousy job, and the buck stops with me. I would like the ten million, but I am not going to sell my soul for it." Now we are hearing about " well JC did stuff, you want me to bring that out in the open? He is hurting the school , the program and the man who gave him this opportunity. I would say he is bringing others down the toilet with him.

Understand this perspective and your point. My only point is here is that K.O. has a different view of it and his job prospects have been greatly impacted by the University using "Cause" to terminate the contract. They essentially put him in this corner and bet that he would back down and run with his tail between his legs. Obviously that is not happening and this was completely foreseeable. K.O. has never backed down from anything.