OT Shea Ralph Vandy (merged)

[BRS24]

You know what would be fun? A Ralph and Berube combo at UConn.

 

[mainerhuski]

Shea should get the offer before anyone else. If she turns it down, I’m not sure where to go from there. Carla Berube perhaps? If they wanted to be daring I would take a look at Molly Miller at Az St. She has won big everywhere she’s been.

I love Sue, Dee, Maya etc as much as anyone but they have no coaching experience and just because you were a great player does not mean you would be a good coach. They need Shea! If they get the right coach, maybe we can minimize the post legend doldrums and keep UConn at or near the top. I’m for Shea, then (it sounds ridiculous I know) I would look at Molly Miller. She’s young, dynamic, and a brilliant coach.

I expect some of the assistants who are well-versed in “Geno & Chris’ way” to be promoted. They also know the players & potential recruits.

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

Vanderbilt still undefeated with some good wins, though not likely by the end of the season. No matter what happens by then, she is doing a great job at Vanderbilt. I hope they keep it up.

I once thought she was the ready successor to Coach Geno when he retires. But this kind of success at Vanderbilt, a school of higher academic standing, would make it difficult, if not impossible to persuade her to leave for UConn WBB, especially since she is basically home. If that is the case, then I see no likely candidate with the right pedigree and profile for the job who would move from where they are and face the kind of intense pressure as successor to Coach Geno.

Are DT and SB interested in coaching? I think with SB's current activities, she is past that possibility.

It's going to be hard to find a replacement. Fortunately, Coach Geno doesn't seem to show signs of wanting to leave soon....stacking up his roster to the max after keeping it 10 or less for a long time. And he has found a fountain of exceptional talent overseas.

Hmmm....would DT be a good coach? None of the current assistants is likely to move, so DT cannot be hired in as an assistant.

Who might be the candidates from outside the UConn WBB universe? Alas! Dynasty could end when Coach Geno and CD leave - they are going to leave together.

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

Oh BTW, I really hope Sara Okeke joins UConn WBB next year. Despite the crowd that's growing in the UConn frontcourt, it would be better for her to be at UConn than elsewhere, obviously not South Carolina - they have enough incoming talent.

UConn's incoming two look like excellent pickups....the more I see in what is available to see them play.

If UConn wins the NC2026, it means they end up with an unbeaten season, their 7th?

 

[CTBballfan243]

Vanderbilt still undefeated with some good wins, though not likely by the end of the season. No matter what happens by then, she is doing a great job at Vanderbilt. I hope they keep it up.

I once thought she was the ready successor to Coach Geno when he retires. But this kind of success at Vanderbilt, a school of higher academic standing, would make if difficult, if not impossible to persuade her to leave for UConn WBB. If that is the case, then I see no likely candidate with the right pedigree and profile for the job who would move from where they are and face the kind of intense pressure as successor to Coach Geno.

Are DT and SB interested in coaching? I think SB's current activities is past that possibility.

It's going to be hard to find a replacement. Fortunately, Coach Geno doesn't seem to show signs of wanting to leave....stacking up his roster to the max after keeping it 10 or less for a long time. And he has found a fountain of exceptional talent overseas.

Hmmm....would DT be a good coach? None of the current assistants is likely to move, so DT cannot be hired in as an assistant.

Who might be the candidates from the UConn WBB universe? Dynasty ends when Coach Geno and CD leave - they are going to leave together.

1.) No coach in their right mind would leave a school in the Power 2 conference to coach a school in the Big East.
2.) You never want to be the guy (or woman) to follow a legend. That’s a no win situation.

If I were Geno and CD, I would find a young Coach and get them on the UConn staff asap. The current UConn staff is ancient. They need to get some young blood on the staff. The young coach in waiting could learn under Geno and CD for a few years and at the same time get their same synonymous us with UConn . The year before Geno thinks he is going to retire he should let the young coach in waiting actually be the game day head coach. He and CD could just sit on the bench. Have a smooth transition to the next head coach. However it works itself out, if UConn is still in the Big East when Geno retires then that will be the end of UConn.

 

[Gael]

You know what would be fun? A Ralph and Berube combo at UConn.

Berube has a stellar won-loss record at DIII Tufts and now at Ancient Eight Princeton, one of the richest universities in the world.

But Ralph has far more experience recruiting elite D1 basketball players—at UConn, Vanderbilt and even PItt—and recruiting is the first, second and third most important coaching skill in women's college basketball.

I don't see Ralph leaving a program she personally resurrected from the dead to follow an a once-in-history god at UConn, unless the financial incentives are simply overwhelming. In addition, lots of folks, particularly southerners like Ralph, consider Nashville to be one of the most desirable cities in the country to live in.

Maybe Ralph would be somewhat incentivized to leave the badlands of the SEC for the soft grass of the Big East if success there becomes too hard for her, but that would probably mean her program is stumbling on the Via Dolorosa, in which event she would become less desirable to the UConn AD.

I've always thought Diana Taurasi would make an excellent recruiter and X/O technical coach, notwithstanding her lack of coaching experience. Her personal charisma is gravitationally attractive, like Geno's, and no one has had more experience in playing at the highest levels and for the best coaches in the world.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Berube has a stellar won-loss record at DIII Tufts and now at Ancient Eight Princeton, one of the richest universities in the world.

But Ralph has far more experience recruiting elite D1 basketball players—at UConn, Vanderbilt and even PItt—and recruiting is the first, second and third most important coaching skill in women's college basketball.

I don't see Ralph leaving a program she personally resurrected from the dead to follow an a once-in-history god at UConn, unless the financial incentives are simply overwhelming. In addition, lots of folks, particularly southerners like Ralph, consider Nashville to be one of the most desirable cities in the country to live in.

Maybe Ralph would be somewhat incentivized to leave the badlands of the SEC for the soft grass of the Big East if success there becomes too hard for her, but that would probably mean her program is stumbling on the Via Dolorosa, in which event she would become less desirable to the UConn AD.

I've always thought Diana Taurasi would make an excellent recruiter and X/O technical coach, notwithstanding her lack of coaching experience. Her personal charisma is gravitationally attractive, like Geno's, and no one has had more experience in playing at the highest levels and for the best coaches in the world.

Gael- - - -DT has always said she didn't want to coach she wanted to own a team!

 

[JellyBean]

Coach Shea is doing a wonderful job at Vandy and I am happy for her. As for the future of the UConn program and whoever takes over after Coach Auriemma and CD leave, I just hope that fans are realistic with their expectations of the new coach and give that new coach a grace period.

 

[Next 12]

I am extremely elated that I was around when Geno And Chris were the coaches of the Uconn Huskies and also the same when they were the face of Women's basketball and the record setting team that they are. I am 92 and want to live long enough to see Geno retire after one more extension of his current contract. WHY would anyone give up a life like being the coach of the best team in NCAA women's basketball? I worked 6 days a week l I was 90. Geno seems healthy and cound coach for 10 more years. I certainly hope so, even if I won't see it. GENO and CHRIS and the HUSKIES are a ONCE IN A LIFETIME PHENOMENOM!!!!!! GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!

 

[huskeynut]

We have has this discussion before.

The skill sets for being a great athlete are not the same as being a very good coach. Many athletes cannot teach what they do to others. Their moves on the court are instinctive.

DT has no interest in coaching. SB has no interest in coaching.

As for Shea is having at Vandy, I don't see her leaving. She is building a program that is hers. Vandy is a great institution to be working at.

And finally, following a legend like Geno is no easy task. You need a very think skin to follow a legend. You will be constantly compared to a legend.

 

[CTBballfan243]

Coach Shea is doing a wonderful job at Vandy and I am happy for her. As for the future of the UConn program and whoever takes over after Coach Auriemma and CD leave, I just hope that fans are realistic with their expectations of the new coach and give that new coach a grace period.

“Realistic”????? Is this your first stop in at the Boneyard? “Realistic” and UConn women’s basketball fans should never be used in the same sentence. Most UConn women’s basketball fans aren’t happy unless UConn is winning by at least 30. So, yes, I’m sure their expectations will be measured when the eventual new coach takes over LOL LOL

 

[WiseWillie]

All that is true but I don’t blame her for being upset about it! For that matter, from what I saw, she didn’t make a big deal about it! In the postgame interview she merely responded to a question by saying she had asked for a review. I personally think there should be a review of game changing calls in the last minute of the game!

Is this deja vu the 2021 Elite Eight game between Baylor and UConn? Seems Mulkey seems to somehow play the same after-the-fact tune. IMO it would have been a lot more professional to say "no comment" or "let's move to other questions".