Not sure exactly what they were referring to, but UCONN does a bit of this. It's more about how it's done, the expectations going in, and the girls you recruit and work with.
UConn may in fact do this to a certain extent, but his application and approach is much different.
Geno has perfected a program that many coaches wish to emulate.
1. Geno is not directly enforcing his rules & regulations. CD does that. She also acts as the "buffer" if/when conflicts arise. She (or one of the other coaches) usually can counsel a player (to everyone's satisfaction) if a conflict arises.
Before they agree to come to UConn, potential recruits already know what Geno's "marching orders" are. Either the assistant coaches tell them, or the players do (in detail) when they come on campus for their official/unofficial visit. Also remember that Geno's current set of "house rules" are a compilation of rules that have worked best for the team and the student athlete for 31 years. Example: Geno did not have a "no twitter "rule during the season 20 years ago, because twitter did not exist back then. Most of his rules and mandates changed and evolved with the times. CD has no doubt been Geno's sounding board, and had bounced ideas off of her to get a second opinion. They've been together long enough for her to know exactly what he thinks, and how he thinks. There are exceptions, i.e. no tattoos, no tee shirts under the jersey during a game, no purple hair (Dolson).
2. During his long tenure, Geno has found a happy medium. Swoopes is a relative newbie at being a head coach, and is still looking for hers. Swoopes was an assistant girls basketball coach at Mercer Island High School in 2010 and most recently served as a television analyst for Texas Tech women's basketball games during the 2012-13 season. Swoopes was named to her current position on April 12, 2013. Swoopes, who is regarded as one of the greatest female athletes of all time, is in her third season as head women's basketball coach at Loyola University Chicago.
She does not have a vast amount of experience to draw upon yet. It sounds like (as HGN mentioned) she does not have a CD on her staff that could manage/resolve these internal challenges. Geno also knows where the line is that should not be crossed. Swoopes obviously has not learned that yet (based on the article). There's nothing wrong with wanting to come into a program and wanting to change the culture, but there is a right way, and a wrong way to do it.
You also must have players that will buy into your proposed changes. CD has the standing/cachet to pull Geno aside if she feels it necessary to do so. Not sure if Swoopes has someone with that same stature on her staff.
It's obvious that what she's doing, its not working. Mass defections are a "red flag" and a sure sign that there is discord within the program. If the AD can't convince her to adjust her demeanor and approach, then the AD may have no other choice than to relieve her, and find a suitable replacement. Its a good bet that this is not what the AD had in mind when Swoopes was hired.
A player can be completely honest with the AD and other administrators during their exit interviews. They don't have anything to lose. They can be totally forthright and honest. If a coach appears/perceived to be too toxic for the good of the program, then the AD must step in and correct the situation like AD Pat Haden did with head football coach Steve Sarkisian at USC last year. Its not suggested that the tail be allowed to wag the dog, but a conducive and mutual (respect) relationship between coach and player is a must.
