Recruits overwhelmingly like Ollie as next UConn coach

[Waquoit]

It's JC's program and it needs to continue with a choice that keeps the momentum

If we keep the current momentum, we'll be in America East. I want a choice that will turn the momentum around.

 

[Waquoit]

And no matter how many deep tournament runs he has, it doesn't change the fact that he coaches at a CAA school. I doubt he even tries to recruit the top 50 or so kids in each class unless they are local. When you're coaching at a mid-major level, the recruiting strategy is completely different. You're looking for 4 year guys who you think will develop into solid players in the second half of their career. Once he gets a high major job, his recruiting strategy instantly changes.

Exactly, like Calhoun's did.

 

[aboogieee]

Interesting: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...ho-is-the-most-overrated-coach-in-the-country

"... I've long believed, actual coaching ranks pretty far down the list of things that are important for a man to succeed in this sport. I'll take the guy who is a great recruiter and great motivator -- and who has the ability to hire a great staff -- over the best Xs and Os guy every day."

"We were sitting inside the Dean Smith Center, and I asked why, after all these years, he still works so hard in recruiting, because he does -- and I think most would back me on this -- still work really hard recruiting. Williams' answer always stuck with me. Basically, he said he still recruits hard because he thinks of himself as a good coach but not as a great coach, and that he never wants to have to find out if he's good enough to win with average players."

 

[upstater]

Thats all speculation. You don't know me personally. Haters are gonna hate though. LOL

I'm speculating that you know less about basketball than Calhoun. I'm sorry to hurt your feelings.

 

[upstater]

It will also be interesting evaluating the 2013-14 bubble NIT team that UConn appears to be headed for due to Calhoun holding the program hostage. When that happens the sentiment may be a little different. I am 1000x sure of that.

No it won't be different. It's pretty clear you severely underestimate Calhoun.

 

[UConnSwag11]

He has virtually his whole team back so he's going to win another 25+ games this year.

And no matter how many deep tournament runs he has, it doesn't change the fact that he coaches at a CAA school. I doubt he even tries to recruit the top 50 or so kids in each class unless they are local. When you're coaching at a mid-major level, the recruiting strategy is completely different. You're looking for 4 year guys who you think will develop into solid players in the second half of their career. Once he gets a high major job, his recruiting strategy instantly changes.

There's a difference though between 25 wins in a mid major and 25 at a power conference. Didn't he have an opportunity to coach at Illinois and a few other schools but he said no?

 

[freescooter]

Calhoun's assistants have all been such great head coaches, I have absolute confidence that Kevn Ollie will be another in the long line of, well maybe 2, who were sort of successful at low mid-majors...

 

[freescooter]

Calhoun evaluated him. Someone who knows 1000x more than you about this stuff.

How many of Calhoun's assistants have gone on to be highly successful head coaches elsewhere? He also evaluated them. Jeez. Calhoun kis a good coach, but he hasn't exactly filled the head coaching ranks with his proteges.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Well that says a lot right there. If KO is the next coach, he WILL get top recruits. There is no doubt in my mind. As far as the X's and O's go im not worried at all. Ollie was well seasoned throughout his long basketball career. First of all he is a PG and i believe that is like the equivalent to baseball how a lot of catchers make good managers. He played 4 yrs for JC as we all know, then went on to play 13 years in the NBA for what it seemed like a new team every year. Thats a lot of different teammates, coaches and systems over the years. What im trying to get at is KO probably has an idea of what he thinks can work on the basketball court. John Calipari isnt the best X and O coach out there by any means but he gets his share of wins because he gets the players.

I know nothing is guaranteed and im sure there will be some bumps in the road early just like there are for every first time HC. Ive read a lot of posts saying how this would be a great time for him to take over since there wont be any pressure and expectations with the post season ban and i agree 100%. I want JC here for as long as possible but if he decides to hang it up now, im all for Ollie taking over. I just cant see a really big name coach wanting to take the job. Brad Stevens is not coming here either. This should get interesting and im sure there will be a lot of heated debates here.

I'm pretty sure we have a couple qualified assistants as well. Not sure if Blaney hangs around, but isn't Hobbs on the bench?

 

[Marty Jackson]

and things have progressively gotten worse with the program since they committed on all fronts (1 in which Ollie was a coach on). Highlighted by our temperamental self centered Evel Knievel head coach who has lost all touch with reality (what a difference 1 year makes).

Kidding right? Are you an idiot, or just a retread from the folks that wouldn't stop blathering about how Calhoun couldn't coach anymore, only to see him win NC #3....

Now go back to sleep...

 

[Marty Jackson]

I'll take a coaching staff of KO, Donny Marshall and Ray Allen in 3-4 years.

 

[Waquoit]

I'll take a coaching staff of KO, Donny Marshall and Ray Allen in 3-4 years.

Sure, if you want to win the Over 40 division of 3 on 3.

 

[nomar]

In a perfect world, Ollie turns out to be good at Xs and Os and runs with the job. That remains to be seen.

Iin a perfect world, this team would not be the weakest UConn team in decades, and Calhoun's likely absence would provide a good opportunity for KO to get his feet wet. I am tired of Blaney's coaching. I just don't think he's a good game coach.

But it's not a perfect world, this team is pretty bad, and I think it would be a mistake to let KO coach some games if JC has to miss them. Bad for his reputation, I think.

 

[upstater]

Calhoun's assistants have all been such great head coaches, I have absolute confidence that Kevn Ollie will be another in the long line of, well maybe 2, who were sort of successful at low mid-majors...

did he hire them for UConn?

Was Hobbs so bad at GW? How'd the other GW coaches do? How bout DePaul/Virginia? They improved?

 

[upstater]

How many of Calhoun's assistants have gone on to be highly successful head coaches elsewhere? He also evaluated them. Jeez. Calhoun kis a good coach, but he hasn't exactly filled the head coaching ranks with his proteges.

He evaluated them? D'Oh? What ewre his evaluations?

 

[CL82]

In a perfect world, Ollie turns out to be good at Xs and Os and runs with the job. That remains to be seen.

Iin a perfect world, this team would not be the weakest UConn team in decades, and Calhoun's likely absence would provide a good opportunity for KO to get his feet wet. I am tired of Blaney's coaching. I just don't think he's a good game coach.

But it's not a perfect world, this team is pretty bad, and I think it would be a mistake to let KO coach some games if JC has to miss them. Bad for his reputation, I think.

Disagree. I think it is all upside.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Kidding right? Are you an idiot, or just a retread from the folks that wouldn't stop blathering about how Calhoun couldn't coach anymore, only to see him win NC #3....

Now go back to sleep...

Thanks "Smarty Marty" haha. I live in the present not in the past for the purpose of conducting business. Decisions made with a emotional bleeding heart are usually disastrous and "quite frankly" (as Calhoun would say) the program is at a crossroads. JMHO

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Calhoun's assistants have all been such great head coaches, I have absolute confidence that Kevn Ollie will be another in the long line of, well maybe 2, who were sort of successful at low mid-majors...

143-129 lifetime with 2 NCAA second round departures for DL (27-34 his last 2 years @ Virginia). He did the right thing by resigning though at Virginia. Ironically DL is an assistant with Missouri.

Points well taken Scooter.

 

[superjohn]

BlueDogHouse, when did you change your name from Frank Ivy?

 

[Chief00]

I would like to see Warde pull the trigger and announce KO as the coach in waiting. It is time to make a move especially with JC laid up for awhile. If you can get talent and can motivate, one can get an X and O uy on th staff, if that already doesn't exist.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

BlueDogHouse, when did you change your name from Frank Ivy?

I'm not the type of guy that would deliberate on a move from Oklahoma to New York. I would just pull the trigger on that 1 as a no brainer.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

did he hire them for UConn?

Was Hobbs so bad at GW? How'd the other GW coaches do? How bout DePaul/Virginia? They improved?

Calhoun recruited DL to NE. Then JC brought DL from NE to UC as an assistant coach. Now DL is with AO in Mizzou! haha

 

[upstater]

Calhoun recruited DL to NE. Then JC brought DL from NE to UC as an assistant coach. Now DL is with AO in Mizzou! haha

Oh, I didn't know that. You're a fount of knowledge. And this crappy guy that Calhoun recruited to Northeastern was the most successful DePaul coach of the last two decades. More successful than the guy who left Clemson for that job.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Oh, I didn't know that. You're a fount of knowledge. And this crappy guy that Calhoun recruited to Northeastern was the most successful DePaul coach of the last two decades. More successful than the guy who left Clemson for that job.

DL did his best coaching job ever I think with the Maine Red Claws last year. I guess hanging with Alex at Mizzou was a litle more important than the Red Claws job!

 

[superjohn]

BlueDogHouse, seriously what the hell are you talking about?