Ollie looking for 5 million plus from NBA teams

[upstater]

Since the state of Connecticut is so awful, why don't people just leave!! Get out ASAP.

 

[intlzncster]

If you look at my original post, that program, is in italics, as it is here. And what I meant by that is the type of school that is willing to do anything to buy wins; through buying the most expensive coach, facilities, recruits, whatever. We're a state school with many public and private revenue streams, a $1.1 billion state budget. Fact of the matter is we can pay Ollie $5 or $6 mil. a year, but my point from the beginning was that we shouldn't. It would run contrary to our history and distort our legacy while guaranteeing nothing more for the future of the program, never mind the fact that UCONN is first and foremost a school.

You should get paid what you are worth according to what the market bears. The basketball program pays for itself, and if it can support that kind of contract for KO, then that kind of contract should at least be in play. No need to overpay based on the market, of course.

The mismanagement of State funds falls on Legislature, not UCONN basketball. The latter actually generates positive net income, where as the former consistently sits in the red. The fact is, KO should be the highest paid state employee because he helps bring in the most profit.

 

[CAHUSKY]

Which is what makes it so damned hard to turn down a big $$$ offer should one materialize. You never know if you'll have the opportunity again.

 

[EricLA]

This thread is a steamy pile.

KO is not leaving- he will not leave because he can make 2.5 MM more a year coaching in the NBA, His family is here- they grew up here and he finally can spend more time with them. He does not want to couch in the NBA- he wants to coach at UCONN were he can effect young mens lives.

He is not motivated by NBA money- he is however doing a fine job of negotiating- I have heard the deal is pretty much agreed to for KO- KO is waiting to make sure the other coaches are taken care of as well. Also the buyout of his contract is important with him being such a hot
commodity and it needs to be steep- that always takes time to work out.

He can live quite well on 2.5 million and another million a year in endorsements. Also quit biatching about kids not coming here because of this- we are involved in more top 50 kids this year then we have been anytime I can remember.

Things are good- enjoy it and relax.

I hope you are right and that's pretty much how I've looked at it. But the selfish fan side of me appreciates that he's in such high demand, but wishes this was all over and done with. I realize that we only get snippets of info as well as a healthy dose of speculation from people on all sides, but in a way it makes it sound like Ollie is just chasing the money, and I know he's not THAT kind of guy.

 

[Chief00]

So "chasing" $25m over 5 years is a bad thing? Who wouldn't do that to guarantee financial security for their family - assuming it's not a set-up for failure scenario.

 

[SixRings]

Some of you people are nuts and need to relax. This will take some time to find a common ground. I'm happy, as a tax payer, you don't have the authority to negotiate this contract.
I speculate that WM will try to sign KO to a 10yr deal and KO is probably looking at 5yrs. Likely it will be an agreement in the middle for ~$4m per year. He is well worth it. After that or just before the end of the contract I can see KO jumping to the NBA. We've got a shooting star. Maybe the kids will keep in his head and he stays longer.

 

[Richmondhsky]

If WM doesn't get a deal done...he's done. Obviously, SH has a huge part of the decision but this contract negotiation will seal the deal for any further CR for us. Without Mens BB success...how much does the state invest in the University?

Lots more at stake than the Mens BB program. KO has them over a barrel....this is not so much about dollars for him but commitments to secure P5 membership. KO has integrity and although he wants to get paid, he's looking for a payday for his assistance's and a hard commitment the University will invest to make the athletic programs a shoe in for P5.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

If WM doesn't get a deal done...he's done. Obviously, SH has a huge part of the decision but this contract negotiation will seal the deal for any further CR for us. Without Mens BB success...how much does the state invest in the University?

Lots more at stake than the Mens BB program. KO has them over a barrel....this is not so much about dollars for him but commitments to secure P5 membership. KO has integrity and although he wants to get paid, he's looking for a payday for his assistance's and a hard commitment the University will invest to make the athletic programs a shoe in for P5.

Warde is a very bit player on this stage.
Really KO is a one man show.

 

[EricLA]

So "chasing" $25m over 5 years is a bad thing? Who wouldn't do that to guarantee financial security for their family - assuming it's not a set-up for failure scenario.

To answer your question, no. But there's no guarantee he wouldn't be fired is there? The NBA fires and hires a lot of the coaches on a frequent basis. The only ones who seemingly have real job security are guys like Rivers, Pop, Van Gundy, etc.

But to answer your question further, $5 mil+ would put him in the top 5 of ALL coaches in the NBA. Only Van Gundy, Popovic, and Rivers make more than that. I guess any NBA team that is dumb enough to offer a guy with 2 years total coaching experience for $5 million + sort of deserves what they get. It's a really huge gamble. And if they weren't able to "lure" Izzo or Cal, I'd be disappointed in Ollie were he to chase after that.

But by chasing the money, I mean this. Every time you hear Ollie talk, he's all about the "kids" - molding, teaching, coaching, them etc etc. He talks about that as his passion. It's what drives him. To get the most out of his players and turn them into the best men AND basketball players he can. If that's his true passion, and he's not just blowing smoke, then it's not in synch with coaching/babysitting a bunch of prima donnas in the NBA for more $. I do get that if he's only going to make $1 Mil or so at UCONN for the next 5 years and an offer comes along that's 5 times that, he'd clearly be tempted and rightfully so.

But to come out and say "it will take $5 million per to get me to the NBA" (and I haven't seen any quotes of him saying that) would be disappointing me and an indication of chasing the money. If UCONN can get him $2-3 mil per year not including bonuses (speaking and performance), then it becomes less an issue of him doing what truly inspires him and going after more $.

I also should have added that clearly it's just my opinion. Whether or not I'm disappointed in Ollie, or what he says/does, will have zero impact on his actions... But we are a bunch of armchair QB's, so at least we get to spew our own personal brand of craziness, eh?!!