Props to Warde Manuel

[superjohn]

Warde got blasted pretty good by a lot of us early on in his time here but I think he's doing a great job. Some people didn't like that he took some time before making Ollie head coach but he did make him head coach, same with Diaco. We have an unbelievable coach in place with Kevin Ollie and even though Diaco hasn't taken the field yet leading Husky football, I expect very good things. It is a new and improved vision coming from our athletic department. Great coaches in place, I love what we are doing with scheduling, the marketing of the brand has gotten better by leaps and bounds and we are really targeting NYC and southern CT., Warde definitely deserves some credit.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Warde got blasted pretty good by a lot of us early on in his time here but I think he's doing a great job. Some people didn't like that he took some time before making Ollie head coach but he did make him head coach, same with Diaco. We have an unbelievable coach in place with Kevin Ollie and even though Diaco hasn't taken the field yet leading Husky football, I expect very good things. It is a new and improved vision coming from our athletic department. Great coaches in place, I love what we are doing with scheduling, the marketing of the brand has gotten better by leaps and bounds and we are really targeting NYC and southern CT., Warde definitely deserves some credit.

I totally agree and think your assessment is fair and spot on. There's no guarantee HCBD will succeed, but it certainly seems like he's more likely to than HCPP. And we all know how awesome Ollie is.

 

[partial]

I'll say this he didn't stand in the way with regards to Ollie...and that's a compliment. I think quite a few people would have handled the situation a whole lot worse. We'll likely see Ollie get an extension after the season is over which will give us more insight. in the end though his job to me is take this success and market UConn better the bungle with conference realignment has made the road tougher but we are showing we can be elite no matter the conference.

 

[MattMang23]

I am not one for "I told you so's" but I have been on Warde's bandwagon from day one. He isn't Rockstar Warde but he's done a nice job with what he's had to work with I'd say.

 

[Palatine]

His handling of the Ollie situation seem very astute. In the moment there was much gnashing of teeth on the Boneyard. But in retrospect, he made the decision fairly quickly, it didn't affect recruiting and he was able to a feel for KO as a head man. Warde protected himself and the university in case KO had fallen on his face. Now, it's all but forgotten.

 

[tykurez]

It actually makes me angry to think about. Jeff Hathaway got away with murder and Warde took the brunt of it from a lot of quick trigger fans around here.

Glad we're where we are now though.

 

[Dooley]

Warde and Herbst are both doing wonderful jobs to market UCONN, address areas that needed addressing, and raising UCONN's profile to get out of AAC purgatory. It's a 3-5 year plan and always has been and we're in year 2. It's great to see UCONN leadership with a clear plan and watching that plan take shape.

 

[8893]

I didn't agree with the way Manuel dealt with Ollie in the first instance, but I was happy that he came around quickly enough so that it wasn't an issue.

I wouldn't say that Hathaway got away with murder. He was criminally negligent in his job and almost killed the program in the process, but he was called out for it here and elsewhere, and he did pay a price.

 

[Pudge]

Totally agree.

He has been a HUGE improvement over his predecessor. I thought that early. I did like what he did with Ollie (he was probably suspicious in a new position watching Calhoun maneuver ... but, he went with it. We are all the beneficiaries of a damn good insight by JC of what Kevin was capable of doing). I like the Diaco hire ... mostly because he has great energy AND he wants to be here. (*Narduzzi NOT) I think the marketing feels far better. Let's see full Rentschler. And more & more energy for Mens & Womens hoop. I think we can pull into Southern Connecticut - primarily Fairfield CTY & more of a NY presence & see if we can be a broader New England brand.

 

[Jerry1714]

Eh, we are still in the AAC, Diaco has not won a game yet, and I still think he handled the Ollie situation poorly(it worked out longer term but I still maintain he handled it poorly)

He looks to have things on the right track, but I think his legacy will depend on getting us out of the AAC. IMO

 

[Fishy]

Anyone see him go full-on crazy after Nolan's dunk?

That is a whole lotta enthusiastic athletic director right there.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Eh, we are still in the AAC, Diaco has not won a game yet, and I still think he handled the Ollie situation poorly(it worked out longer term but I still maintain he handled it poorly)

He looks to have things on the right track, but I think his legacy will depend on getting us out of the AAC. IMO

I agree with this. He's done some good things of late, but ultimately his legacy will come down to conference affiliation. He got scooped by Jurich and UL last time, that didn't look good.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Anyone see him go full-on crazy after Nolan's dunk?

That is a whole lotta enthusiastic athletic director right there.

I read about that and it was great! I believe he is fully invested in UConn. I understand his career aspirations (to lead on of the handful of top athletic departments in the country) and I think he understands that his best path there will be building UConn into that (many here do not realize how close we are). I believe he also realizes how much better his legacy will be if he is the guy who helped build it vs being another guy on the list who ran an already established power.

 

[dante]

Warde got blasted pretty good by a lot of us early on in his time here but I think he's doing a great job. Some people didn't like that he took some time before making Ollie head coach but he did make him head coach, same with Diaco. We have an unbelievable coach in place with Kevin Ollie and even though Diaco hasn't taken the field yet leading Husky football, I expect very good things. It is a new and improved vision coming from our athletic department. Great coaches in place, I love what we are doing with scheduling, the marketing of the brand has gotten better by leaps and bounds and we are really targeting NYC and southern CT., Warde definitely deserves some credit.

I don't know he takes to damn long to make a move had he fired paul pascuwhatever 2 years ago we might be in a better position today. The guy went to china to china for that nike bs, UConn mens didnt get new unis and the football unis and helmet was a disaster.
He let Ville lobby to the ACC without a fight instead he talked about monitoring the situation? like wtf. Diaco oh though a good hire was the fallback guy Warde did not get the guy he wanted

 

[intlzncster]

Anyone see him go full-on crazy after Nolan's dunk?

That is a whole lotta enthusiastic athletic director right there.

When Warde crowd surfs the celebration at UCONN, a la the Dayton President, I'll pat him on the back for that. The bar has been raised. Course UCONN still has a couple of games to go.

Actually now that I think about it, I want Herbst to crowd surf. That would be hilarious.

 

[sdhusky]

When Warde crowd surfs the celebration at UCONN, a la the Dayton President, I'll pat him on the back for that. The bar has been raised. Course UCONN still has a couple of games to go.

Actually now that I think about it, I want Herbst to crowd surf. That would be hilarious.

Without Diaco new strength training program, that would not be possible.

Now, Warde will be as heavy as a feather.

 

[mcs333]

Jurich didn't scoop Manuel. There was nothing he could do to get UCONN in the ACC. There was never the votes for UCONN and it wasn't even close.

 

[Waquoit]

We've seen a lot more former players on camera during this and the AAC tournament. I wonder if that's part of a concerted effort by the athletic department. And who was that big guy giving Ollie the hug before JC's hug? I thought it looked like Eric Heyward.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

We've seen a lot more former players on camera during this and the AAC tournament. I wonder if that's part of a concerted effort by the athletic department. And who was that big guy giving Ollie the hug before JC's hug? I thought it looked like Eric Heyward.

Drummond?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Agree with Dante, and I will add that 90% of coaches would have told Warde to f off around the end of December 2012 and signed with another school after the way warde treated Ollie with the temp contract. Ollie has a lot more class and loyalty than warde deserves.

 

[8893]

Drummond?

He was there. In the orange coat.

 

[Alum86]

Agree with Dante, and I will add that 90% of coaches would have told Warde to f off around the end of December 2012 and signed with another school after the way warde treated Ollie with the temp contract. Ollie has a lot more class and loyalty than warde deserves.

Agree. Too many of you are drunk with Final4 juice and are soft on the Rock Star now. We are winning despite him, not because of him.

 

[J187Money]

Agree with Dante, and I will add that 90% of coaches would have told Warde to f off around the end of December 2012 and signed with another school after the way warde treated Ollie with the temp contract. Ollie has a lot more class and loyalty than warde deserves.

Right. Coaches with 0 head coaching experience handed a top 5 program would have walked away because of an interim tag. That's absurd.

 

[Jerry27]

We've seen a lot more former players on camera during this and the AAC tournament. I wonder if that's part of a concerted effort by the athletic department. And who was that big guy giving Ollie the hug before JC's hug? I thought it looked like Eric Heyward.

Boo Willingham

 

[UCweCONN]

Warde got blasted pretty good by a lot of us early on in his time here but I think he's doing a great job. Some people didn't like that he took some time before making Ollie head coach but he did make him head coach, same with Diaco. We have an unbelievable coach in place with Kevin Ollie and even though Diaco hasn't taken the field yet leading Husky football, I expect very good things. It is a new and improved vision coming from our athletic department. Great coaches in place, I love what we are doing with scheduling, the marketing of the brand has gotten better by leaps and bounds and we are really targeting NYC and southern CT., Warde definitely deserves some credit.

Warde, is that you? I didn't know you were a Boneyarder. Welcome aboard!...