Warlick's time coming to a close?

[DefenseBB]

Boeheim has won a championship though...

True...but even a blind squirrel finds an acorn. Heck even Sylvia Hatchell and Carolyn Peck have one/won title...just sayin'

 

[Zorro]

They ain't happy over in the hollers.

 

[Orangutan]

That might be true. I think her finalists were Tennessee of course, Oregon St., Notre Dame and maybe Maryland. Kind of a mixed bag on the quality of the coaches for the programs she was looking at.

There's just something weird w/ how top Oregon high school players keep buying into the mystique of Tennessee.

To me that's not a mixed bag so much as three very good/great coaches and Holly. Maybe not everyone rates Frese, though?

 

[Orangutan]

I believe Holly has one year left on her contract after this year. Holly's future will probably be known prior to the start of next season. If she doesn't receive a Contract Extension prior to the start of next season, then she'll be coaching for her job next year. I suspect if the Lady Vols host in the tournament and make it to the Sweet 16, she'll get the contract extension. She has a good Won/Loss Record of 149/51 that many AD's would love to see out of their WBB program. She has another good recruiting class going to Knoxville and she'll be given at least to next year to return the Lady Vols to one of the Elite of the SEC. So Carolina and Miss St graduate some of their best players and next year the Lady Vols may be back on top of the SEC.

How many years are we going to do the "wait until next year" thing with Tennessee? Yes, there will be no Vivians or Wilson in the SEC, but don't worry, Warlick will find a way for Tennessee to sink to mediocrity.

 

[mbr33ct]

To me that's not a mixed bag so much as three very good/great coaches and Holly. Maybe not everyone rates Frese, though?

Lol, I see what you done there.

 

[HuskylnSC]

Boeheim has won a championship though...

I think we gave that title to Melo??

 

[HuskylnSC]

If I were Phil Fullmer, I would take a few minutes and promote holly to an emeritus position where she can stay engaged with recruits and donors, then steal a good coach while TN has the talent on board to recapture some glory. I bet Orangutan will take the job.

 

[oldude]

After TN lost to Bama yesterday, just for the fun of it, I went over to VolNation to check out the game thread. What absolutely stunned me was the level of negatively and gallows humor that pervaded the game thread, even before the opening tip. I thought most Vol fans were pretty upbeat so far this season. Outside of Margo, I'm not sure that's true. Whether or not the administration will ever elect to replace HW remains to be seen, but if the TN fans get to vote, she'd be gone tomorrow.

 

[pacific 44]

Are there enough boneyarders here to maybe start a keep Holly fund and maybe we can all chip in $10 bucks or so and send it in to the Tinnowsee athletic department if they will keep Holly in her present job? We could at least defray some of her salary.

 

[HuskyNan]

True...but even a blind squirrel finds an acorn. Heck even Sylvia Hatchell and Carolyn Peck have one titles...just sayin'

Geno ribbed his friend Jim Boeheim and said the anyone could have coached that team to a championship. “Give the ball to Carmelo [Anthony] - how hard is that?” is a direct quote.

 

[southie]

I believe Holly has one year left on her contract after this year. Holly's future will probably be known prior to the start of next season. If she doesn't receive a Contract Extension prior to the start of next season, then she'll be coaching for her job next year. I suspect if the Lady Vols host in the tournament and make it to the Sweet 16, she'll get the contract extension.

If an AD allows a head coach to go into their final contract year with no public announcement of a contract, they are a "lame duck" coach and it affects recruiting.

 

[Bigboote]

I am not one to defend anything TN related, but during the AL game in the 4th quarter Debbie Antonelli pointed out that Holly called out for a 3/4 court press yet her kids acted like they didn't have a clue and were just running around (paraphrasing here).

I noticed that, too. Also a remark about horrible (or possibly defeated) body language. As has been pointed out, considering the source, those are pretty scathing remarks.

 

[Padutch5]

Coach Warlick isn't being fired. She has one year left on her contract and makes about $600k. It would be dumb to fire her now.

How do you define dumb? Just like with Ollie, it might also be dumb not to fire them.

 

[BobbyJ]

Maybe she and Kevin Ollie can go start an AAU team somewhere. Sounds more appropriate to their abilities.

Ooooh, that's not nice. I thought NBA Ollie would be their key to getting the one and dones.

 

[Florida Fan]

I don't know if it will happen anytime soon - the AD seems uninterested - but there is 1 huge difference I've noted this year:

For the first time ever, I've heard analysts openly criticize Tenn's play. That *never* happens. Criticism in general is not high in WCBB in my estimation in part because the analysts are all so invested in growing the game that they don't want to be too harsh. But the comments about Tenn from Nell Fortner and Debbie Antonelli have been telling IMHO. Mind you, they're not strong, but for long-time regular viewers, any negative statements, eg "They're standing around", "Tenn looks puzzled. C'mon it's a 2-3 zone." are quite noticeable.

Fans always complain. But when analysts are making comments...

Today, Vol Nation posts were particularly virulent, the pitchfork-carrying hordes storming the castle at the sumitt of their discontent. I've stopped watching Holly's post-game pressers as they are too painful, as close to the definition of coaching purgatory as can be imagined. With Warlick, we've gone way beyond Schadenfreude, transcending the satisfaction of Tennessee on the ropes, to pleading for the referee to pick up the towel and stop the bleeding.

 

[Bama fan]

I don't know if it will happen anytime soon - the AD seems uninterested - but there is 1 huge difference I've noted this year:

For the first time ever, I've heard analysts openly criticize Tenn's play. That *never* happens. Criticism in general is not high in WCBB in my estimation in part because the analysts are all so invested in growing the game that they don't want to be too harsh. But the comments about Tenn from Nell Fortner and Debbie Antonelli have been telling IMHO. Mind you, they're not strong, but for long-time regular viewers, any negative statements, eg "They're standing around", "Tenn looks puzzled. C'mon it's a 2-3 zone." are quite noticeable.

Fans always complain. But when analysts are making comments...

Glad to see that you are back.

 

[Bama fan]

Today, Vol Nation posts were particularly virulent, the pitchfork-carrying hordes storming the castle at the sumitt of their discontent. I've stopped watching Holly's post-game pressers as they are too painful, as close to the definition of coaching purgatory as can be imagined. With Warlick, we've gone way beyond Schadenfreude, transcending the satisfaction of Tennessee on the ropes, to pleading for the referee to pick up the towel and stop the bleeding.

Love the use of Schadenfreude. Now I just have to know if " at the summit of their discontent" was intended as a pun, or if you just stumbled into it. Well played!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I've stopped watching Holly's post-game pressers as they are too painful, as close to the definition of coaching purgatory as can be imagined.

Why that is precisely why I watch them! The quavering voice, the lost look scanning the room ... priceless.

Holly Warlick Press Conference - Alabama

 

[Go/huskies]

I honestly wonder what she tells these recruits to get them to go there. The kids can all see games on TV, and what do they think?

It's the history of the program. If Holly is let go after this season, I expect to see Green and Massengill stick.

 

[JordyG]

Maybe she and Kevin Ollie can go start an AAU team somewhere. Sounds more appropriate to their abilities.

So right. At least Ollie (once the darling of the NBA Future Coaches Association) has an idea. Holly is clueless. Last year many on the Lady Vol site and here on the BY were convinced that Diamond was the problem. Or Cooper was the problem. Or Diamond and Cooper where the problems. Many here and on Rocky Top called their leaving "addition by subtraction". But I kept saying, it ain't the players people, it's Holly and her antiquated system and lack of offensive basketball teaching skills. It's also here inability to recruit for effort and then use the bench as a teacher. It's also her poor on court decisions and puzzling use of TO's. It has been and still is all Holly. And Ollie.

 

[ctfjr]

Maybe she and Kevin Ollie can go start an AAU team somewhere. Sounds more appropriate to their abilities.

Now that's harsh - true but harsh

 

[shizam]

I don't know if it will happen anytime soon - the AD seems uninterested - but there is 1 huge difference I've noted this year:

For the first time ever, I've heard analysts openly criticize Tenn's play. That *never* happens. Criticism in general is not high in WCBB in my estimation in part because the analysts are all so invested in growing the game that they don't want to be too harsh. But the comments about Tenn from Nell Fortner and Debbie Antonelli have been telling IMHO. Mind you, they're not strong, but for long-time regular viewers, any negative statements, eg "They're standing around", "Tenn looks puzzled. C'mon it's a 2-3 zone." are quite noticeable.

Fans always complain. But when analysts are making comments...

I’ve heard analyst openly criticize Tenn play before this year several times.

 

[shizam]

So right. At least Ollie (once the darling of the NBA Future Coaches Association) has an idea. Holly is clueless. Last year many on the Lady Vol site and here on the BY were convinced that Diamond was the problem. Or Cooper was the problem. Or Diamond and Cooper where the problems. Many here and on Rocky Top called their leaving "Addition by subtraction". But I kept saying, it ain't the players people, it's Holly and her antiquated system and lack of offensive basketball teaching skills. It's also here inability to recruit for effort and then use the bench as a teacher. It's also her poor on court decisions and puzzling use of TO's. It has been and still is all Holly. And Ollie.

You are right it is Holly but how does she recruit so well with it being common knowledge how challenged she is as a coach?

 

[SCGamecock]

Tennessee will have the most talented roster next season (not a new concept, recently even). Not necessarily the best team, but the most talented roster.

Let’s see what Warlick does with this.

 

[oldude]

Why that is precisely why I watch them! The quavering voice, the lost look scanning the room ... priceless.

Holly Warlick Press Conference - Alabama

This is one of the most painful post game pressers I can remember. I have a couple random thoughts:

- Some have suggested that the problems with TN in previous years had more to do with team chemistry issues centered on DD, Cooper & others. Clearly, TN has problems that are endemic to HW’s program.

- HW has reached a level of frustration that has her now throwing her team under the bus. That’s new for HW.

- As HW talked about her team’s lack of effort, I could not help but think about Geno’s comment to his team last year that, “at UConn we don’t teach effort.”

 

[shizam]

Strange as this may seem but the best two quarters of basketball I’ve seen played this year are
1. UConn’s 1st quarter over L’Ville
2. Tenn 1st quarter over ND

 

[Sifaka]

CHW, as the Voles, err...Viles.... Sorry, the VOLS call her, is deserving of not one, but two Nobel Prizes.

"Laydeez an Gennulmin, I call your attention to Ms. Holly Warlick, this year's winner of the prizes for alchemy and metaphysics. She has turned a record number of fine and talented young basketball players into something the forum software will not allow, but which shares many characteristics with Milorganite™*"

* What is Milorganite? :: Milorganite

 

[JordyG]

You are right it is Holly but how does she recruit so well with it being common knowledge how challenged she is as a coach?

I'll leave that to the mind readers in world who can reliably predict the mind of a 16 and 17 year old. It's my personal belief however that the Lady Vol name, the campus, and her pitch which tells them "Come to Rocky Top and be a star in the SEC" that are big factors. I also think Holly herself is personable and ingratiating.

 

[Bronx23]

I think HW(and there are many others who have fallen into this category) of being an assistant or associate or just a #2 to a great, prominent #1 just aren't cut out for the role of the leader. Taking it further it's much harder to think of the few who have come close, or matched, or yet exceeded their mentor.
Yes she sure must be a great recruiter and probably filled that role superbly as #2. It's especially hard in today's world where almost every second or comment is publicly available. In an idealistic world one could delegate certain responsibilities to their assistants or associates but including managing a game and motivating players I can't see working too well.
It brings me to Geno & CD. Their partnership maybe unmatched in sports but how would CD do if she either had left U Conn (sure there were many offers) or ultimately takes over when Geno retires. From what I see and hear she doesn't want those headaches and responsibilities. She is so very humble and one could see how uncomfortable she was talking about herself with her being accepted into the HOF. I believe she would do
Much better than HW as a head coach but wouldn't excel. Finding the person who can follow this twosome will be almost impossible task. I don't expect they could repeat what Geno and CD have done but remaining a top notch program would itself be very difficult.
I am not privy to most of what will go into this decision, which likely is not that far off, and from my vantage point Shea Ralph might be the choice. I'd guess that the candidate pool will be enormous with many very capable choices.
The other issue that's part of this equation is the importance of loyalty. In my mind it's amongst the most important aspects of life and is also essential to building a great anything be it family, company or sports team. BUT, there can come a time where one has to look at where things are at, and decide if going against loyalty is the right thing to do. I can think of two extreme but very public examples of the Penn State football program and the Catholic Church, where loyalty carried to its ends, can lead to horrible outcomes not just for the individuals harmed (which should have been foremost) but to the institutions themselves.
Maybe UT values their loyalty to HW and the memory of Pat Summitt more than remaining an elite program. If that was or is the decision I can respect that!
Bronx23

 

[cbraarj]

IMO, if Tennessee decides it is time for a change. They ask her to retire or resign on her own. She is a 3-time AA! She is the first athlete at Tenn. to have her number retired! What Pat did at Tenn. will never be duplicated. She needs to concentrate on the SEC titles. This is called reality. When Geno retires the same will happen to Uconn but to what extent nobody can say until then.