Shea's Future?

[BroadwayVa]

The most likely joint retirement of Geno & CD will be the major task facing the AD whenever that occurs. If Shea is the one (or Jen for that matter) getting that second in command like GA got in CD will be tough.
As to all the records the only one really still out within the WCBB arena is total wins. Summitt went out with 1098 in her 38 years, about 29 per year. GA has 917 over his 30 years, do the math. Interesting is that GA needs a little less than another 8 years of 35 GAMES per year to reach PS's total games of 1306. UConn would need only to win about 70% of those 255 games to allow GA to pass the total of PS. If they win at the 87% level in that time (GA's career win pct.) the total goes up to more than 220 more wins. Hope I can hang around long enough to bear witness.

I agree with most of what you say (as usual). I dis agree with the conjecture that GA may want to stay long enough to beat Pat Summitts 1306. With everything elses he has done--that is small pudding.
For Shea to get the job 3 questions must be answered: 1. Who is Geno's choice? 2. Will the AD go along with it? (high probability ) 3. If asked, does Shea want that job>?? (I doubt there is a job in the world she wants more).
In terms of Shea wanting the job; Uconn pays it's assistants better than many pay their head coach. (big plus) Uconn is and will be for some time the team to beat as such she'll have respect most HC's only dream about. HC pay won't be Geno's pay, but I surmise it will be exceptional for a new HC. Also there is the--how will this choice fit with UC fans? (boy is that a hard question to answer?????)

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Who is Geno's choice?

The dynamic of the selection process could be fascinating. I suspect Geno would give his evaluation of each candidate, but not indicate directly his choice. I recall an interview in which he spoke of the selection process for the nat'l team. His players he had his say, left the room, came back after the vote. Swin was in jeopardy. He had his say and left. Guess what: she got a thumbs up. Suspect it might be something like that.

 

[BroadwayVa]

The dynamic of the selection process could be fascinating. I suspect Geno would give his evaluation of each candidate, but not indicate directly his choice. I recall an interview in which he spoke of the selection process for the nat'l team. His players he had his say, left the room, came back after the vote. Swin was in je opardy. He had his say and left. Guess what: she got a thumbs up. Suspect it might be something like that.

The reason I suggested Geno "selecting" his successor is the way Calhoun selected Ollie. I think it may be as you say--with Geno going back in and "suggesting". But if I voted on who he would select I'd have stay with Shea.
This is not being argumentative, just a thought: The National Team is a group of Professionals who must play well with each other to accomplish their task. Who runs the Uconn Basketball team, IMO, is about who can/will keep the program on top and have many of Geno's attributes--again Shea.
If not Shea--the dynamic's of the selection process may well be arduous, long and demanding with a national search for the proper candidate. I hope not.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

The reason I suggested Geno "selecting" his successor is the way Calhoun selected Ollie. I think it may be as you say--with Geno going back in and "suggesting". But if I voted on who he would select I'd have stay with Shea.
This is not being argumentative, just a thought: The National Team is a group of Professionals who must play well with each other to accomplish their task. Who runs the Uconn Basketball team, IMO, is about who can/will keep the program on top and have many of Geno's attributes--again Shea.
If not Shea--the dynamic's of the selection process may well be arduous, long and demanding with a national search for the proper candidate. I hope not.

Nope, don't see that as argumentative; course it helps when I agree with you - about Shea. But I do think that Geno would not want anyone to carry the burden of Geno's hand picked successor, so it would be a process with him given great deference.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Y'all will recall that in his book Geno cited Jamelle as being the perfect choice to replace him. That would be hard to do now, given her W-L record. Ironically, her teams appear to me (not that I would know) to be well coached. She just doesn't have the horses. You could also say that about several teams in the AAC.

I have always thought that the best thing would be for CD to do the Bill Guthridge thing, take the reins for a couple of years to buffer a transition. But I guess she's intent on retiring with Geno.

On a side note, I sure hope the university does something really special to honor CD when she's done. If not a statue, at least naming something after her. She's the most successful assistant/associate coach in WCBB history, and maybe in all of college sports. And as Geno has pointed out many times, none of this remarkable success would have happened without her.

 

[billnaples]

My prediction: That wont happen

Not only do I think Shea would not be going to UNC, even if that's 2-5-10 years away, I don't think UNC deserves to have intercollegiate athletic competition. An 18 year academic scandal should result in bigger punishments than PSU, Syracuse, and SMU got combined. They forfeited the right with the complete lack of institutional control that existed at so many levels.

 

[Bonpland]

I like Shea, but I don't know what my fellow posters see in her record to this point that makes anyone think that she is equipt to take control of the premier program in WCBB.

I suggested in another thread that if Shea is to be "the one" then she should take a position at a mid-major and learn first hand what it takes to be in charge, top to bottom, of her own program.

Geno will coach until he loses his desire to compete. Shea has time to go off and learn her craft.

Haven't we all seen in sports and in life that being a talented assistant does not necessarily insure success on the next level?

I'll stand with what I've said earlier; I'd be more inclined to look to a Courtnry Banghart (someone, who against the odds has built a winning program at a school that cannot draw the best talent) as a potential successor, before I'd feel comfortable handing the ship to an assistant.

Geno was an assisstant when he came here, but he was under no pressure to produce an immediate winner. I'd suggest that many of her (and Jenn's for that matter) supporters would be less than pleased if Shea delivered back to back unsatisfactory seasons.

Admiring these girls as players is not enough to warrant offering them the keys to the kingdom. The UCONN position is not just "some job." It is about playing this "kid's game" in the Land of Oz, and it is going to require a very special talent to take Geno's place pulling the levers behind that curtain.

 

[DaddyChoc]

So you think Shea is just twiddling her thumbs up in Storrs

 

[Bonpland]

I don't think that following Genos' lead, and being an important part of the coaching staff, is enough to qualify her to be the next head coach. There is a great difference between the two roles.

I've loved our players over the years but I don't see one of them being automatically "grandfathered" into the job of becoming the next head coach of Uconn WBB. Nothing personal here.

 

[billnaples]

I like Shea, but I don't know what my fellow posters see in her record to this point that makes anyone think that she is equipt to take control of the premier program in WCBB.

I suggested in another thread that if Shea is to be "the one" then she should take a position at a mid-major and learn first hand what it takes to be in charge, top to bottom, of her own program.

Geno will coach until he loses his desire to compete. Shea has time to go off and learn her craft.

Haven't we all seen in sports and in life that being a talented assistant does not necessarily insure success on the next level?

I'll stand with what I've said earlier; I'd be more inclined to look to a Courtnry Banghart (someone, who against the odds has built a winning program at a school that cannot draw the best talent) as a potential successor, before I'd feel comfortable handing the ship to an assistant.

Geno was an assisstant when he came here, but he was under no pressure to produce an immediate winner. I'd suggest that many of her (and Jenn's for that matter) supporters would be less than pleased if Shea delivered back to back unsatisfactory seasons.

Admiring these girls as players is not enough to warrant offering them the keys to the kingdom. The UCONN position is not just "some job." It is about playing this "kid's game" in the Land of Oz, and it is going to require a very special talent to take Geno's place pulling the levers behind that curtain.

Don't know what you know or think you know about what Ralph has done and/or continues to do as a member of GA's staff. If you think all she does is hold a clipboard and pat players on the back. So before you'd hand the job to an "assistant" just suppose the popular guess of CD going out with Geno doesn't happen would you give the job to an "associate" coach? And by the way UConn gave the Men's HC job to someone without HC experience, just someone who sat next to Calhoun for a few years after having been a player for him. Sound familiar?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Admiring these girls as players is not enough to warrant offering them the keys to the kingdom. The UCONN position is not just "some job." It is about playing this "kid's game" in the Land of Oz, and it is going to require a very special talent to take Geno's place pulling the levers behind that curtain.

Gee, thanks for clearing that up!

 

[Bonpland]

Don't know what you know or think you know about what Ralph has done and/or continues to do as a member of GA's staff. If you think all she does is hold a clipboard and pat players on the back. So before you'd hand the job to an "assistant" just suppose the popular guess of CD going out with Geno doesn't happen would you give the job to an "associate" coach? And by the way UConn gave the Men's HC job to someone without HC experience, just someone who sat next to Calhoun for a few years after having been a player for him. Sound familiar?

So.....If I don't understand just how qualified Shea is, just what are her qualifications? She's an assisstant to a Hall of Fame coach, and she was a gutsy, outstanding player on some of our greatest teams. That makes her one of our all-time favorites, but does it make her our next head coach?

I'm less sophisticated than some of our regular posters, but I played a college sport, my children all played a college sport and I've been watching sports on all levels for fifty years and I've seen assistants regularly fail even though it seemed a no-brainer at the time to promote from within.

If Shea gets the job I'll be her biggest fan, and who knows after spending another tens years sitting next to CD and behind Geno she may indeed be the best choice.

 

[calpedaler]

So.....If I don't understand just how qualified Shea is, just what are her qualifications? She's an assisstant to a Hall of Fame coach, and she was a gutsy, outstanding player on some of our greatest teams. That makes her one of our all-time favorites, but does it make her our next head coach?

I'm less sophisticated than some of our regular posters, but I played a college sport, my children all played a college sport and I've been watching sports on all levels for fifty years and I've seen assistants regularly fail even though it seemed a no-brainer at the time to promote from within.

If Shea gets the job I'll be her biggest fan, and who knows after spending another tens years sitting next to CD and behind Geno she may indeed be the best choice.

UConn would never hire someone who was an assistant to an established head coach. Even if that coach displayed confidence and moxie. ..... or would they?

 

[Buzzyboy]

Two comments.

1. On the accessing the article issue -- if you have an iPhone 5S or later with the News app, one of the things you can make a favorite is the Hartford Courant, and another is Womens' Basketball. Between the two of those you can find virtually any UConn article from the Courant, totally free, at no charge, gratis.

2. On the actual content of the piece -- I have long believed that, if she wants it, the team will be hers once Geno and CD retire; and make no mistake, I believe that they will do so simultaneously. I said to family and friends when she was hired as an assistant coach that I believed this was done with the idea in mind that she would be able to use an assistantship here to develop into the head-coach-in-waiting to be entrusted with leadership of the team when Geno decides to hang up his whistle. Nothing that has happened since then has changed this opinion. In fact, over the intervening seasons, I have noticed her taking a more and more active role on the sidelines, during warmups, etc. So I do think that she would be an excellent choice for the successor head coach. That said, I think Geno is going to hang around for a while - I truly believe he wants to continue until UConn holds every or virtually every all-time record as to which records are kept for teams (final fours, championships, etc.). I think he wants to leave behind a legacy that will stand right up there next to John Wooden's as THE best coach the women's game has ever seen. It is worthy of note that most of Mr. Wooden's records on the men's basketball side have stood to this day -- admittedly largely a function of the fact that, unlike when he coached, hardly any top players stay for their entire eligibility on the men's side, whereas they still do on the women's side.

Some of John Wooden's records remain because the NCAA turned a blind eye to the fact that there was a booster who for many years bought potential recruits cars, gave them gifts and money and phony jobs, thus recruiting the cream of the crop. Since then, no coach has had boosters who were able to do what that guy did for Wooden, at least not for the length of time that it happened out there in Westwood. Beyond that, the path to the Final Four was so easy for west coast teams at that time because there was only a 32 team field and they kept teams in their own region. Since there were very few quality teams on the west coast during the Wooden years, the path for UCLA was relatively easy. This isn't to suggest he wasn't a very good coach but just that it was far, far easier to succeed due to the two mentioned reasons. Your point of no one leaving early was a good one, as well.

 

[Buzzyboy]

So.....If I don't understand just how qualified Shea is, just what are her qualifications? She's an assisstant to a Hall of Fame coach, and she was a gutsy, outstanding player on some of our greatest teams. That makes her one of our all-time favorites, but does it make her our next head coach?

I'm less sophisticated than some of our regular posters, but I played a college sport, my children all played a college sport and I've been watching sports on all levels for fifty years and I've seen assistants regularly fail even though it seemed a no-brainer at the time to promote from within.

If Shea gets the job I'll be her biggest fan, and who knows after spending another tens years sitting next to CD and behind Geno she may indeed be the best choice.

It surely helps to be able to pick the brain of the best women's college basketball coach ever and who knows, maybe the best college basketball coach ever!!! Beyond that, she's also been under the tutelage of Chris Daily and beyond that, she's one of the most competitive people on the planet, as was Jennifer Rizzoti. Her intensity and intelligence, along with the fact that her Mom was a wonderfully gifted basketball player gives her some serious advantages along with the fact that she's proven herself to be a marvelous recruiter. What else would you want out of a college head coach?????

 

[Buzzyboy]

UConn would never hire someone who was an assistant to an established head coach. Even if that coach displayed confidence and moxie. ..... or would they?

Wait a minute, didn't they do that with Geno?????

 

[Buzzyboy]

Not only do I think Shea would not be going to UNC, even if that's 2-5-10 years away, I don't think UNC deserves to have intercollegiate athletic competition. An 18 year academic scandal should result in bigger punishments than PSU, Syracuse, and SMU got combined. They forfeited the right with the complete lack of institutional control that existed at so many levels.

I've said that before. It's one of the most horrendous scandals in NCAA history and it should be dealt with boldly and harshly. Actually no penalty would be considered harsh, more like justified.

 

[calpedaler]

Wait a minute, didn't they do that with Geno?????

Shocking isn't it.

 

[billnaples]

So.....If I don't understand just how qualified Shea is, just what are her qualifications? She's an assisstant to a Hall of Fame coach, and she was a gutsy, outstanding player on some of our greatest teams. That makes her one of our all-time favorites, but does it make her our next head coach?

I'm less sophisticated than some of our regular posters, but I played a college sport, my children all played a college sport and I've been watching sports on all levels for fifty years and I've seen assistants regularly fail even though it seemed a no-brainer at the time to promote from within.

If Shea gets the job I'll be her biggest fan, and who knows after spending another tens years sitting next to CD and behind Geno she may indeed be the best choice.

So we're about the same age, give or take a couple. Some assistants fall flat, no arguement. Some have success. You seem to have decided that whatever Ralph has learned to date is not enough to put her in the running for the job, but another 10 years of mentoring by GA & CD MIGHT do the job. For the record there is no face in WCBB today that can come to the UConn job with credentials that would remotely measure up to Geno and CD. No coach in the game today has more than 2 NC's. And I dare say none of them are likely to have any interest in the UConn job, even if it were available tomorrow. Notre Dame, Stanford, Oklahoma, Baylor, Duke, Tenn, MD?? None of them are heading to Storrs. So do I want someone from outside the family coming in or do I like the idea of program continuity with a long time assistant? Remember Shea has been an assistant at Pitt for 5 years and now with UConn in her 8th year. If it's 3 or 5 or 8 more years before the dynamic duo moves on I will suggest that Ralph's resume merits the job.

 

[Bonpland]

Well Bill Shea has her supporters and I like her too much to continue to contest her qualifications. Let's hope that we don't have to worry about Geno's successor for another decade.

 

[DaddyChoc]

if you dont think Geno is grooming Shea or that Shea is closely observing all the details of what Geno... She may go on more recruiting trips with Geno than CD does these days.

I just dont understand how someone thinks Shea is just helping "our girls" come up with a Ramen noodles recipe in their dorms.

How can she become a head coach at UNC but not at UConn... weird thinking (head coaching experience is your criteria)

 

[Ctpaul0825]

"I will tell you that Coach Auriemma is going to coach until he falls over," Ralph said. "He is a coach at heart, and it is fun every day to see his energy and how his mind works."

 

[billnaples]

if you dont think Geno is grooming Shea or that Shea is closely observing all the details of what Geno... She may go on more recruiting trips with Geno than CD does these days.

I just dont understand how someone thinks Shea is just helping "our girls" come up with a Ramen noodles recipe in their dorms.

How can she become a head coach at UNC but not at UConn... weird thinking (head coaching experience is your criteria)

I always find it a little to a lot surprising when you engage in a debate and feel as though you have knocked your opponents position down a few pegs or more and instead of getting the concession that he was in a weak position he chooses to abandon the conversation. Just a thought.

 

[UcMiami]

UConn would never hire someone who was an assistant to an established head coach. Even if that coach displayed confidence and moxie. ..... or would they?

Wait a minute, didn't they do that with Geno?????

Well if we take Geno's word for it, his biggest qualification for the job when he interviewed was his answer to 'What do you need from us, if we offer you the job?' to which he unlike all the more qualified interviewees answered 'Nothing!' At a time when the Uconn AD had nothing to offer the WCBB program and its next coach, that was the PERFECT answer, and definitely made him the most qualified contender for the Uconn job. Plus he ate the d___ donut when it was offered!

 

[billnaples]

Shocking isn't it.

Being retired and having days with absolutely nothing to do except research matters that may have an impact on our virtual water cooler conversations out here in the BY led to the following: So put this into the mix. Since John Toner hired Calhoun and Auriemma in 1985 there have been, including Toner, 4 A.D.'s and two I believe interim holders of that position. In addition there have been 5, yes FIVE, school Presidents. If not for the issues surrounding the APR for the Men's basketball team which, like it or not, was the primary reason that Calhoun retired and Ollie took over, UConn would have had NO CHANGES in the head coach of either program for 30 years. Many assistants have come and gone, several to HC jobs. Says an awful lot about the stability of both programs. A smooth transition to Shea at an as yet undetermined date would be right and just.