Ollie Officially Fired

[Skiblets]

ESPN - the network that so much to do with icing UConn out of the ACC now wants UConn to be in the Big East. That would be a 'no'. UConn is the school that got screwed the most in conference realignment and tried to put lipstick on a pig in the American. F them

 

[The Viking]

Let's cool it with the personal back and forths and keep it to the discussion of the event? Half of these posts are a waste of our time.

 

[gtcam]

Oh goody. Another insider who knows everything but can't say what that 'everything' is. It's a funny thing all these supposed insider matriculating to the Boneyard. Makes me think they know nothing, probably less than nothing. Yet they show up here, dangle a carrot or two and see if anyone is gullible enough to bite.

Mau is not your guy - he's not in that mold at all

 

[navery12]

And for your information I wouldn't have sold out our Nationally recognized basketball program for football. I would have stayed in the Big East and parked football somewhere else.

If this was a possibility it would have been explored and likely would have happened. That it didn't happen shows the plausibility of this scenario

 

[MexicoHusky]

I haven't really paid a ton of attention, but what exactlyis the investigation about?

 

[Tuna]

You should be glad that there are three of us paying attention to what you say. Everyone else is ignoring you.

Being too stupid to understand my point is on you.

I'm still not sure how pointing out the hyprocrisy in knocking Ed Cooley's NCAA tourny win total while advocating for a guy with the exact same NCAA tourny win total has anything to do with the fact that I would liked to have seen Kevin Ollie get one more year as head coach. And according to your internet posting rulebook I'm apparently not allowed to point out that hypocrisy based on wanting Ollie back? OK pal.

 

[AdamaNation]

Thanks coach. Second best hc ever. Not bad. Now who wants to start the new era! This is more about conference departure, National relivance, and moving forward. Still ten toes though.

 

[Ha Who]

ESPN - the network that so much to do with icing UConn out of the ACC now wants UConn to be in the Big East. That would be a 'no'. UConn is the school that got screwed the most in conference realignment and tried to put lipstick on a pig in the American. F them

Over analyzing. I’m not a fan of the network and can’t stand that our tax credits did nothing to help us move, but why would they push UConn to a Fox property?

 

[deedougie]

It's sad it came to this but after watching so many games where the team couldn't even compete this year it was time. Thanks Ollie for 2014, but I can't wait to watch a team that plays solid fundamentals, and can rebound and defend first. Baby steps.

 

[UConnWingman]

Jay Bilas said on ESPN, "Yeah, just 'cause they're losing"

I didn’t see it, but....If he’s honest, he’d qualify that statement with “Having said that, in most circumstances, so long as the program is meeting expectations, Athletic Directors go to bat for the coach so long as the penalties meted out by the NCAA aren’t too severe.”

 

[navery12]

For those who think this will hurt our chances with future coaches

 

[CL82]

Wow if I'm another coach how happy would I be if they are trying to find a way for "just cause" on a guy who player here and won a national championship? Red flag

No one expects the last two years and the product that was put on the floor to be acceptable to this university. It would be a red flag if we didn't act on it. As I've said before, we don't know what KO did or did not do, but AD Dave and KO do. Given today's announcement I suspect it may have some substance to it.

Getting rid of KO for cause is like a colonoscopy. Once done we're the better for it but no one enjoys the process.

 

[The Viking]

So I'll discuss the Calhoun side of it.

Calhoun clearly doesn't "object" to this firing - he had a chance to come out and lash out at the school's decision and chose not to. I would assume he's had some discussions with AD Dave - not necessarily about taking over - although he probably told him he's willing if need be - but AD Dave certainly respects Calhoun's take on KO and what has happened to the program. If Calhoun told him it would be nuts to fire Ollie and JC would be ripped - maybe we aren't standing here today. Calhoun holds a ton of weight with UConn nation.

Another side note about Calhoun - as I said on another thread a few days ago, don't be stunned if ends up on the bench for a short term stint -IF they can't bag the guys they are going after. Calhoun and maybe someone like Tom Moore as a coach in waiting? Or another Calhoun guy at his side? I don't know. As I said a few days ago in talking to someone who does not have UCOnn ties but does have ties to Calhoun - if asked, this person was confident Calhoun would run the team again. Note that Calhoun in his comments to reporters never said I will help the University any way I can EXCEPT For being the head coach. I'm happily retired, yada yada yada. Somebody responded to my post a few days ago saying no way his family would allow him to come back. Well that's incorrect from what I've heard.

And of course we have the history of AD Dave reaching back for a former successful coach. Although honestly I think this is only happening IF UConn misses on their top 2-3 targets (or 1-2 targets).

A few days ago I thought the odds of Calhoun running the team was maybe 10% - I'll bump it up to 30% now....without knowledge of who they are going after and how much money they are willing to spend. Also keep in mind just as Edsall took less as part of the deal due to UConn paying 5 mil to dump Diaco, I'm sure Calhoun would take a cut in order to help fund the Ollie buyout. Calhoun wouldn't be coming here for 3 mil a year like some of these other targets UConn may be looking at.

 

[Carnac]

View attachment 29254

I don't follow the men's team (I follow the women's team), and I could see this coming.

 

[JMick]

I'm so glad that all of the posters who were clearly just fans of or had personal relationships with Ollie will be gone.

LMAO at such childish gibberish..

Your shortsightedness is bewildering

I've been a season ticket holder most likely before you were conceived.
Yes I know and respect KO. I know JC , I know Geno and family and I know Ray Reid and I know the Penders, the Pancieras, Coach Perno, the late great Coach Morrone. and like and respect every one of them. They all are not perfect, they all are not the ideal coach for every situation in every program.
But I do know one thing I will not get on a public forum like this and spew ridicule at these people when things are going bad. I coached for over 25 years and it is not an easy job at all.
Coach Ollie did not have the numbers that were expected the past few years. People like you think he didn't care and just there to pull in a salary- you couldn't be further from wrong.
He is gone now. You can get off your soapbox and get on to your next target/cause. No need to ridicule him or the folks who have a different perspective than you and/or may know a little more about the situation/profession than you.

I hope UConn makes the correct choice going forward and that this action will not come to bite them in the arse because the ramifications could be far worse than a few losing seasons.

I am not following you as you had indicated before, in fact I do read your comments as a source of humorous relief, however that now is getting old - like me! So I shall look past and ignore but I will not leave the BY

I am glad you achieved your personal goal with KO

I am hopeful that the UConn mens basketball team and KO will find many future successes

 

[mauconnfan]

Oh goody. Another insider who knows everything but can't say what that 'everything' is. It's a funny thing all these supposed insider matriculating to the Boneyard. Makes me think they know nothing, probably less than nothing. Yet they show up here, dangle a carrot or two and see if anyone is gullible enough to bite.

Thanks for your interest in Mau. Take care

 

[Cheddie]

I wonder if, out of respect to Calhoun, that they called Jim before this hit the wire? They certainly would have let Ollie know first or least better have done so

Calhoun was quoted in the Courant's early story, and also listed as an adviser to Benedict. He clearly wasn't surprised, and his opinion was likely sought.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

To all those celebrating the firing with cause:

If it sticks there are some serious sanctions coming our way.

If Ollie wins a legal battle, Benedict and possibly Herbst will be gone.

Either way is messy. Pick your poison.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

They should negotiate a buyout. It reflects badly on Ollie and AD Dave that it has gone this far. But, note that AD Dave has leaked to the press that the "just cause" was only Adams and Larrier having an impermissible practice -- a trivial offense. They are giving Ollie a chance to negotiate the buyout with no significant public accusations. More than likely, they have much more severe NCAA violations they can pull out if they need to win a lawsuit. That would poison the well at UConn, damage the next coach, and severely damage Ollie's reputation. Hopefully it won't come to that. With this move Ollie knows (a) he's out no matter what, it's only a matter of how much money and how bad a reputational hit he walks away with, and (b) fighting will cost him the negotiated buyout and more reputational damage. If he has sense, he'll come to the table and let everything be smoothed over with kind words.

Agree completely. This is a bad look for the school, and could scare some coaches off.

Ollie doesn't really have anything to lose reputation wise by taking this all the way.

 

[UConnWingman]

So I'll discuss the Calhoun side of it.

Calhoun clearly doesn't "object" to this firing - he had a chance to come out and lash out at the school's decision and chose not to. I would assume he's had some discussions with AD Dave - not necessarily about taking over - although he probably told him he's willing if need be - but AD Dave certainly respects Calhoun's take on KO and what has happened to the program. If Calhoun told him it would be nuts to fire Ollie and JC would be ripped - maybe we aren't standing here today. Calhoun holds a ton of weight with UConn nation.

Another side note about Calhoun - as I said on another thread a few days ago, don't be stunned if ends up on the bench for a short term stint -IF they can't bag the guys they are going after. Calhoun and maybe someone like Tom Moore as a coach in waiting? Or another Calhoun guy at his side? I don't know. As I said a few days ago in talking to someone who does not have UCOnn ties but does have ties to Calhoun - if asked, this person was confident Calhoun would run the team again. Note that Calhoun in his comments to reporters never said I will help the University any way I can EXCEPT For being the head coach. I'm happily retired, yada yada yada. Somebody responded to my post a few days ago saying no way his family would allow him to come back. Well that's incorrect from what I've heard.

And of course we have the history of AD Dave reaching back for a former successful coach. Although honestly I think this is only happening IF UConn misses on their top 2-3 targets (or 1-2 targets).

A few days ago I thought the odds of Calhoun running the team was maybe 10% - I'll bump it up to 30% now....without knowledge of who they are going after and how much money they are willing to spend. Also keep in mind just as Edsall took less as part of the deal due to UConn paying 5 mil to dump Diaco, I'm sure Calhoun would take a cut in order to help fund the Ollie buyout. Calhoun wouldn't be coming here for 3 mil a year like some of these other targets UConn may be looking at.

I’d bump it up significantly beyond 30%. It makes too much sense to just name him the interim coach to boost recruiting so that a wider net can be cast for a permanent replacement.

 

[Ha Who]

I’d bump it up significantly beyond 30%. It makes too much sense to just name him the interim coach to boost recruiting so that a wider net can be cast for a permanent replacement.

Did you mean to post this in the ludicrous thread?

 

[The Viking]

And before we get into the whole what coach would come here if we are playing in the American - keep in mind that in 5 years we will be on the move to the Big East or a better P5 conference - due to the 2022ish B1G inspired realignment.

Any coach coming would be told this conference is ours for the short-term only.

 

[MexicoHusky]

ESPN used the term "cause" when referring to our reason for letting KO go. Last time I remember hearing that term used in reference to a coach firing was by Al Davis.

So we are not in great company

 

[Ha Who]

And before we get into the whole what coach would come here if we are playing in the American - keep in mind that in 5 years we will be on the move to the Big East or a better P5 conference - due to the 2022ish B1G inspired realignment.

Any coach coming would be told this conference is ours for the short-term only.

Rule 1. We will be in the new Yankee Conference

 

[JMick]

ESPN used the term "cause" when referring to our reason for letting KO go. Last time I remember hearing that term used in reference to a coach firing was by Al Davis.

So we are not in great company

our athletic department used the term cause. it's how anyone gets fired that doesn't get their buyout money.