Virginia WBB head coach Tina Thompson has been fired

[Carnac]

It's hard to imagine Staley leaving for anywhere, given what she's built up at SC. Although before it happened, I never would've believed Mulkey would leave Baylor for LSU.

But she did, and look at her now. From unranked in April when she took over to #6 in the country at 25-4 in only 11 months. That's impressive any way you look at it. I look for her to field a better team this coming season as she adds more players of HER choice to the roster. LSU will be a mainstay in the top 10 as long as Mulkey is there.

 

[Basket]

Where's Mir going? She just transferred to UVa 8 weeks ago. For her sake I hope that decision wasn't based on a desire to be coached by Tina Thompson.

Good point. I just figured when there is a coaching change players are more likely to look at their options. The fact Mir just did might make her more likely to stick around for stability sake but in this crazy environment of free agency anything goes. Take nothing for granted.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Would you consider Virginia an upgrade over Marquette? If so, I would hire Megan Duffy. She's done a great job at Marquette. Moving on to Virginia she would be able to get better players. Now if I'm Megan, I'm not sure Virginia is enough of a high profile job. Might be better to stay at Marquette until she gets a better offer.

Duffy has familiarity with 2 Virginia players as Camryn Taylor and Taylor Valladay transferred from Marquette to Virginia. Could be a weird situation though.

 

[Carnac]

My understanding is that UVA came pretty close to getting Dawn when Boyle left. Then SC made an offer she couldn’t refuse… essentially a contract for life (or as long as she wanted it).

Better known as a "Godfather offer".

 

[Carnac]

It's hard to imagine Staley leaving for anywhere, given what she's built up at SC. Although before it happened, I never would've believed Mulkey would leave Baylor for LSU.

Rest assure, Staley IS NOT going anywhere. She is revered in the state of South Carolina. She's been given the keys to the city, she can go to any restaurant in Columbia and not pay. She has the number 1 program in the country and will continue to be a top 3 program for the foreseeable future. Her program generates $$$ and notoriety for the school.

She has no problem recruiting the top high school seniors in the country. They want to play for her. In another month, she'll have two national championships to her credit. (Remember I am a seer) Here's another reason Dawn is not leaving Columbia: Cashin’ in at South Carolina: Dawn Staley inks historic seven-year, $22.4 million contract.

 

[TC22]

I’m not sure that Dawn has a particularly good relationship with UVA. No details, but just a sense.

Dawn has an excellent relationship with the AD. The old AD didnt call Dawn 4 years ago to offer or even ask if she had any ideas who to talk to. I don’t know if Dawn got offended initially or not but some reporter asked her about it and from there people ran with it a little bit. I think Carla is the new AD and in fact Dawn interviewed her on podcast a couple of weeks ago. Other than that she has a great relationship with them. In fact she does something with a scholarship there.

 

[triaddukefan]

Virginia is a step up from Marquette

1. It’s power 5 AND in the ACC
2. She’ll get a pay raise
3. Virginia program wasn’t a bottom feeder like they have been the last 4 years
4. Maybe you can persuade Mir to stay
5. The right person will recruit higher level players than Marquette
6. Virginia administration is motivated and feeling the heat of Va Tech turnaround

That last one. It's one thing for UVA to be behind Louisville, ND, the Triangle Schools and so forth, but to be behind VPI? I know that infuriates the fanbase.

 

[VA Huskie]

Dawn has an excellent relationship with the AD. The old AD didnt call Dawn 4 years ago to offer or even ask if she had any ideas who to talk to. I don’t know if Dawn got offended initially or not but some reporter asked her about it and from there people ran with it a little bit. I think Carla is the new AD and in fact Dawn interviewed her on podcast a couple of weeks ago. Other than that she has a great relationship with them. In fact she does something with a scholarship there.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Dillon77]

Would you consider Virginia an upgrade over Marquette? If so, I would hire Megan Duffy. She's done a great job at Marquette. Moving on to Virginia she would be able to get better players. Now if I'm Megan, I'm not sure Virginia is enough of a high profile job. Might be better to stay at Marquette until she gets a better offer.

Virginia is a step up from Marquette

1. It’s power 5 AND in the ACC
2. She’ll get a pay raise
3. Virginia program wasn’t a bottom feeder like they have been the last 4 years
4. Maybe you can persuade Mir to stay
5. The right person will recruit higher level players than Marquette
6. Virginia administration is motivated and feeling the heat of Va Tech turnaround

Duffy has familiarity with 2 Virginia players as Camryn Taylor and Taylor Valladay transferred from Marquette to Virginia. Could be a weird situation though.

As one of the resident ND observers and followers of Megan Duffy's coaching career, I've brought this suggestion up on other threads and boards (much to chagrin of some who worry she'd eventually rival her alma mater, ND). To add a few druthers:

- UVA is the kind of place Megan Duffy wants to be and is right in her wheel house. A place where you can combine athletics and high-level academics, attracting players who will realize/take advantage of the academics/reputation/connections while playing at a high level. And, yes, some kids can go pro.

- According to many reports, Duffy was one of top candidates for the Oklahoma job. And she really isn't a big Plains state presence (yet). Yeah, she'd be interested in UVA.

- Duffy has solid experience in the Mid-Atlantic region. During her playing days, ND was traversing the east. Her first two coaching gigs were in the east: learning the ropes from Kim Barnes Arrico at St. John's; and then helping to build the core group of players that Jonathan Tsipis was HC for at George Washington.

- She then went back to work for Arrico at Michigan and coached the guards (Katelynn Flaherty, most notably) before getting the HC gig at Miami of Ohio. Having Arrico and McGraw on the phone is a big positive and Duffy will make those calls.

- Marquette's key players are either grad students, seniors or upperclassmen. Might be time to leave while you're on top...

- The only yellow flag for me is the Taylor/Valladay situation. I can guess why Valladay left -- she was the #2 PG at Marquette behind King and that wasn't changing. But Taylor started, was on Big East teams and had developed well. Was it the allure of being coached by a WNBA great in Thompson? If so, maybe...but I didn't see much growth there. But if there was friction, that should be examined.

Having said all that, Duffy seems to like it in Marquette, she recently got married and her husband is a Midwestern guy. The AD is a former ND guy who knows her well. We'll see.

 

[WestsideWaltz]

I hate to interject this, but will there be pressure on the AD to hire another WOC?

 

[Urshurak]

Rest assure, Staley IS NOT going anywhere. She is revered in the state of South Carolina. She's been given the keys to the city, she can go to any restaurant in Columbia and not pay. She has the number 1 program in the country and will continue to be a top 3 program for the foreseeable future. Her program generates $$$ and notoriety for the school.

View attachment 73953

She has no problem recruiting the top high school seniors in the country. They want to play for her. In another month, she'll have two national championships to her credit. (Remember I am a seer) Here's another reason Dawn is not leaving Columbia: Cashin’ in at South Carolina: Dawn Staley inks historic seven-year, $22.4 million contract.

Someone here on the boneyard said something similar about Mulkey, and look how that turned out......

 

[Carnac]

Someone here on the boneyard said something similar about Mulkey, and look how that turned out......

Apples to oranges here. Mulkey was at the end of her road and asking for things she knew Baylor was not going to give her. She was ready to leave and vice versa. Staley is getting EVERYTHING she's asked for. Baylor DID NOT perceive Mulkey the way SC does Dawn. Look below:

 

[Urshurak]

Apples and oranges here. Mulkey was at the end of her road, and asking for things she knew Baylor was not going to give her. She was ready to leave. Staley is getting EVERYTHING she's asked for. Baylor DID NOT perceive Mulkey the way SC does Dawn. Look below:

Yeah, you're right. I remember reading the story about Mulkey and the tension with Baylor.

 

[JellyBean]

Do you think she should've been given more time? She did nothing in those 4 years to suggest any kind of improvement was taking place. One more year would've just been more of the same IMO.

Technically she only had three years. But I would have given her another year or two to see what develops. Nobody knows what would have happened if she was given one more year or two. May have been the same or things may have improved. They gave Joanne Boyle seven years of mediocrity.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Technically she only had three years. But I would have given her another year or two to see what develops. Nobody knows what would have happened if she was given one more year or two. May have been the same or things may have improved. They gave Joanne Boyle seven years of mediocrity.

I have to disagree. When a coach craters a program, you have to move on. Same deal here w/ Washington and Wynn. Some wanted to see her get a 5th year. I was not one of those. Of course I can't possibly know for sure, because it didn't happen, but I have just about 100% confidence that she would not have turned a corner or shown any kind of significant improvement if she was still coaching in Seattle.

Virginia isn't my team, so it really doesn't matter to me, but IMO Thompson has been given ample time to show she's just not gonna get it done.

 

[Bigboote]

That last one. It's one thing for UVA to be behind Louisville, ND, the Triangle Schools and so forth, but to be behind VPI? I know that infuriates the fanbase.

Yep, the "all dirt roads lead to Tech" mentality is powerful.

 

[UConnCat]

 

[nwhoopfan]

Ha. Like I said, she cratered the program. I didn't realize just how drastic of a contrast it was to everything that had come before. That tweet makes a very black and white case for why she needed to be given her walking papers.

 

[JellyBean]

I have to disagree. When a coach craters a program, you have to move on. Same deal here w/ Washington and Wynn. Some wanted to see her get a 5th year. I was not one of those. Of course I can't possibly know for sure, because it didn't happen, but I have just about 100% confidence that she would not have turned a corner or shown any kind of significant improvement if she was still coaching in Seattle.

Virginia isn't my team, so it really doesn't matter to me, but IMO Thompson has been given ample time to show she's just not gonna get it done.

Understandable. I still think that she wasn't give a decent chance. But that is the nature of the coaching game. Some programs you are given time to build and some you are not. You move on and hope the best for all parties.

 

[JellyBean]

Sad on so many levels.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Okay, here's a challenge. Name a coach who started off with 4 bad years, then turned it around in year 5. I don't even have a guess at a satisfactory example. To the best of my knowledge, coaches who are successful get it going sooner than that.

 

[UConnCat]

Okay, here's a challenge. Name a coach who started off with 4 bad years, then turned it around in year 5. I don't even have a guess at a satisfactory example. To the best of my knowledge, coaches who are successful get it going sooner than that.

Even if the wins aren't quite there they at least show some success in recruiting. Thompson's recruiting was terrible and was never going to improve in year 5 as a lame duck coach. That's why the AD and the university decided to cut their losses.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Okay, here's a challenge. Name a coach who started off with 4 bad years, then turned it around in year 5. I don't even have a guess at a satisfactory example. To the best of my knowledge, coaches who are successful get it going sooner than that.

If you rephrased that to "3 bad years," believe it or not, Geno would qualify:

1985–86	Connecticut	12–15	4–12	7th
1986–87	Connecticut	14–13	9–7	7th
1987–88	Connecticut	17–11	9–7	5th
1988–89	Connecticut	24–6	13–2	1st	NCAA First Round

There was a mild but discernible upward trajectory in years 1-3, but really didn't look all the promising until the Huskies exploded in year four.

ETA: Charli Turner Thorne's newly retired ears were burning, because she's actually a decent example of the fifth year success story:

1996–97	Arizona State	9–19	3–15	9th
1997–98	Arizona State	10–17	6–12	T-7th
1998–99	Arizona State	12–15	6–12	T-6th
1999–00	Arizona State	14–15	7–11	7th	WNIT 1st Round
2000–01	Arizona State	20–11	12–6	T-1st	NCAA First Round

 

[nwhoopfan]

I wouldn't call year 3 for Geno bad. CTT is a good call, good job.

I didn't look up every coach I could think of, but year 3 or 4 is usually when it starts to get better if it's gonna happen I think.

Or if you're Mulkey things instantly get better wherever you go. She's a magician.

 

[UConnCat]

If you rephrased that to "3 bad years," believe it or not, Geno would qualify:

1985–86	Connecticut	12–15	4–12	7th
1986–87	Connecticut	14–13	9–7	7th
1987–88	Connecticut	17–11	9–7	5th
1988–89	Connecticut	24–6	13–2	1st	NCAA First Round

There was a mild but discernible upward trajectory in years 1-3, but really didn't look all the promising until the Huskies exploded in year four.

ETA: Charli Turner Thorne's newly retired ears were burning, because she's actually a decent example of the fifth year success story:

1996–97	Arizona State	9–19	3–15	9th
1997–98	Arizona State	10–17	6–12	T-7th
1998–99	Arizona State	12–15	6–12	T-6th
1999–00	Arizona State	14–15	7–11	7th	WNIT 1st Round
2000–01	Arizona State	20–11	12–6	T-1st	NCAA First Round

Oh come on. Do you have any idea what Connecticut was like before Geno arrived? Geno's first 3 years were not "bad years" considering where the program was when he arrived.

 

[Basket]

I have to disagree. When a coach craters a program, you have to move on. Same deal here w/ Washington and Wynn. Some wanted to see her get a 5th year. I was not one of those. Of course I can't possibly know for sure, because it didn't happen, but I have just about 100% confidence that she would not have turned a corner or shown any kind of significant improvement if she was still coaching in Seattle.

Virginia isn't my team, so it really doesn't matter to me, but IMO Thompson has been given ample time to show she's just not gonna get it done.

I liked Wynn but she couldn’t get wins or players. Long Beach isn’t the Pac 12. USC passed on her and she ended up at Washington. I don’t think things would have been different but you never know. USC better place to recruit

 

[TC22]

Someone here on the boneyard said something similar about Mulkey, and look how that turned out......

Dawn has a $5 mil buy-out. We r safe.

 

[ThatCG1801]

My understanding is that UVA came pretty close to getting Dawn when Boyle left. Then SC made an offer she couldn’t refuse… essentially a contract for life (or as long as she wanted it).

This is going to be a long response but this is a good summation of the situation, and tbh some of this info I didn't know until I read about it on our On3 site:

In 2011 Dawn's own former HC, Debbie Ryan, resigned as UVA's HC. The AD at that time was Craig Littlepage. While he did speak with Dawn about the vacancy, it was basically for optics only and she was never actually seriously considered for the position at all. Dawn said it "left a sour taste in my mouth" and it resulted in a breakdown of any relationship she had previously had with UVA. The AD that caused the rift retired in 2017 and Carla Williams, who remains in the position, was hired as AD. Williams and Dawn are close friends and Williams helped repair most of the damage that Littlepage caused in 2011. In 2018 the HC that Littlepage hired instead of Dawn, Coach Boyles, retired and Dawn was contacted about the position. Dawn did speak with UVA about the position but declined. It is believed that she did provide input as to who the new hire should be, however. UVA ended up hiring Tina Thompson and as we all know, she has now been terminated as HC. Of course it is almost a guaranteed certainty that AD Williams will contact Dawn about the vacancy and I'm relatively certain Dawn will agree to speak with them. It is doubtful that Dawn is interested in the position, however, and it is far more likely that she again provides input and perspective on possible replacements for Thompson. A name that is thought to be likely to emerge is former Gamecock assistant and former Mississippi State HC Nikki McCray-Pinson IF Nikki believes that returning to the coaching ranks is okay health-wise.

End of mini-novella. LOL.

 

[Basket]

This is going to be a long response but this is a good summation of the situation, and tbh some of this info I didn't know until I read about it on our On3 site:

In 2011 Dawn's own former HC, Debbie Ryan, resigned as UVA's HC. The AD at that time was Craig Littlepage. While he did speak with Dawn about the vacancy, it was basically for optics only and she was never actually seriously considered for the position at all. Dawn said it "left a sour taste in my mouth" and it resulted in a breakdown of any relationship she had previously had with UVA. The AD that caused the rift retired in 2017 and Carla Williams, who remains in the position, was hired as AD. Williams and Dawn are close friends and Williams helped repair most of the damage that Littlepage caused in 2011. In 2018 the HC that Littlepage hired instead of Dawn, Coach Boyles, retired and Dawn was contacted about the position. Dawn did speak with UVA about the position but declined. It is believed that she did provide input as to who the new hire should be, however. UVA ended up hiring Tina Thompson and as we all know, she has now been terminated as HC. Of course it is almost a guaranteed certainty that AD Williams will contact Dawn about the vacancy and I'm relatively certain Dawn will agree to speak with them. It is doubtful that Dawn is interested in the position, however, and it is far more likely that she again provides input and perspective on possible replacements for Thompson. A name that is thought to be likely to emerge is former Gamecock assistant and former Mississippi State HC Nikki McCray-Pinson IF Nikki believes that returning to the coaching ranks is okay health-wise.

End of mini-novella. LOL.

Moral of the story don’t follow Dawn’s input if she recommended Thompson

 

[MSSportsGuy]

We all know Dawn isn't going anywhere. Also if NMP gets a head coaching job a UVA then they may as well have kept Thompson.

Virginia may not be a threat to get back to the top of the ACC quickly but they have the resources to be a better program than they've been if the AD is willing to commit to the WBB. Thompson likely wasn't going to get better in year 5 so it was probably the right decision.