We need a new coach

[Letsgohuskies11]

1. If he goes I'd hate to lose some of the guys we have and the recruits we have coming in. Yes, I'm selfish like that but there's no guarantee the next guy could bring in better kids and rebuilds guarantee nothing.
2. If changes are made I'll be more disappointed about Chillious not having the adequate time to fully recruit under normal circumstances. Total
Waste.
3. I'm a fan of UConn MBB regardless of what happens. Hopefully things work
Out.

Losing guys we have? We cant beat Tulsa with the guys we have.

 

[Scrutineer]

You're wrong......zero chance we beat St.John's.....I agree with the rest.

Unfortunately like Trump can shoot someone on Park Ave & not lose votes....KO can lose games by 20+ points on a regular basis, have zero wins against top 50 teams over multiple years, lose to bad teams at home & play bottom feeders of the entire NCAA to basically draws and still keep his job.

KO should negotiate his way out at season's end and maybe save a shred of dignity for himself & UConn..... anyone who thinks we will not keep getting worse with him at the helm is delusional, Akinjo & Wilson are not saving UConn next year.

Aren't political comments prohibited on this site?

 

[Chief00]

There’s no longer any argument against firing Kevin Ollie - at least not one that makes any sense.

We’re legitimately a bottom-third team in the American. There’s no excuse for that. People want to go to the Big East? As presently constituted, there isn’t a team in that conference we’d be favored to beat. If we were lucky, we’d steal wins at home against Depaul and maybe St. John’s.

The program is a farrago of misery and it’s all a direct result of the head coach’s incompetence or neglect or a combination of the two...

Recruiting - bad.
Player development - bad.
On court success - bad.
Off court avoidance of the NCAA - bad.
Public perception - bad.

A Tulsa writer punked the program today and people got their undies in a knot over it - if anything, the guy pulled his punches. Tulsa is something like 5-2 against us. Frank Haith is not a good head coach, but he’ll beat Kevin Ollie with Tulsa’s players and if you switched teams, he’d beat Kevin Ollie again with UConn’s players.

He’s just a bad head coach and he’s a bad program manager - if it weren’t for the poison pill of a contract we have with him, there’d be no question Ollie would be fired at the end of the season. None.

Even so, he’s gotta go.

Sadly, I agree. I hope it’s done in a thoughtful way to save the Blaze recruits. Timing is everything and KO is on the wrong side of history. I wish he brought Chill in a couple years earlier.

 

[uconnbill]

Had tickets for tonight's game and decided not to go. Looking back I did the right thing and I feel bad for those fans who showed up tonight. I haven't felt bad about UConn since BD last game as a coach.

I am an Ollie fan, but he needs to go at season's end.

 

[Adios]

10,000 people even showed up. Damn. Bye bye, KO.

 

[August_West]

Honestly, you deserve better than this. You should be pissed.

I'm not pissed . I'm sad. As much as we are all fans and think we all know what’s best for a team you should never truly believe that you yourself could’ve done a better job with a roster than a guy who won you a NC less than 4 years ago.


I truly believe I could’ve bench coached that team better tonight.

That’s sad. Really sad. I’m a fat musician. Not a basketball alum.

 

[DefCONNOne]

He is staying next year. Oh well lol.

Prof. DefCONN grades this post a D. Why? Incorrect placement of the phrase "Oh well".

It should've read, "Oh well, it looks like he's staying next year. lol.".

 

[Paesano]

Sounds just as feasible as KO willingly negotiating the buyout downward.

Why is that so infeasible?

1. Every game he coaches, he loses value as an assistant in the NBA because he gets more and more coated in his own stink.
2. UConn could use both his failures in compliance as well as his issues off the court as cause and either will cause Ollie's value as an assistant to plummet.
3. There is a growing hatred of the man and that can't be pleasant.
4. He has a ton of money and looks miserable. A change could do him wonders.

 

[UConnNick]

And whoever negotiated for the state to be tarred and feathered, then dragged through Hartford after the women’s NC parade.

That would be AD Dave Benedict. He clearly got snookered by Ollie's agent.

 

[tentoes4rings]

Losing guys we have? We cant beat Tulsa with the guys we have.

The question to the few who are still concerned things could get worse if Ollie is fired. How could it get any worse?? We lose by 20 plus to any quality opponent, and to teams like Temple that aren’t even that good. We lose at UCF, get swept by Tulsa and are in the bottom 3rd of the lowly AAC. We’re 12-14 with two of the 12 being overtime home wins against Monmouth and Columbia. National media considers us to be so bad that we’re completely irrelevant now. It cannot get any worse than it is now. We need a change yesterday.

 

[UConnRock]

Having Larrier as a rebounder on thE last foul shots was coaching malpractice. You put your best 2 rebounders in and just get the ball to your guards for a last second shot. The two rebounders have no chance to be an weapon on offense No need for Larrier to be on the court.

 

[Adios]

Ollie keeps blaming players. Never himself.

 

[EricSD]

Ollie's under contract until 2021? Short of some sort of smoking gun from the NCAA that would vacate his buyout, we are S.O.L. correct? Total bummer because pretty much everyone has nailed it on the head - he does literally nothing well and is sinking the program fast.

 

[Chief00]

And whoever negotiated for the state to be tarred and feathered, then dragged through Hartford after the women’s NC parade.

Maybe it’s that 84 year old guy who was making $200,000 while he was dead for over 6 months.

 

[Stainmaster]

Why is that so infeasible?

1. Every game he coaches, he loses value as an assistant in the NBA because he gets more and more coated in his own stink.
2. UConn could use both his failures in compliance as well as his issues off the court as cause and either will cause Ollie's value as an assistant to plummet.
3. There is a growing hatred of the man and that can't be pleasant.
4. He has a ton of money and looks miserable. A change could do him wonders.

1. His NBA assistant value isn't tied to his current performance. If a guy like Larry Shyatt can win absolutely zilch at Wyoming and move directly to an NBA bench, I don't think KO is being looked at with a ton of scrutiny.
2. UConn is not at all coming clean about off the court issues, because there is no way around AD Dave admitting that he knew about them and kept quiet until on-court performance went south. Given his sole responsibility in initiating the November 2016 extension, I don't think he wants to make any more moves that will hurt his future career prospects. The NCAA compliance is the one component I agree with you could bring the buyout down -- although I still think you need to answer for complaining that we didn't play dirty enough.
3. Who cares how many people hate you when you're making $3MM a year?
4. This may refute my first point, but it seems as if he's burned all his bridges in the collegiate game and may not be able to find a job quickly, hence hanging onto the current contract is all he has.

I recognize KO negotiating the buyout down is a fantasy of most current fans and would greatly improve the situation going forward, but I caution against marrying oneself to that possibility just because it would feel good.

 

[Chief00]

Having Larrier as a rebounder on thE last foul shots was coaching malpractice. You put your best 2 rebounders in and just get the ball to your guards for a last second shot. The two rebounders have no chance to be an weapon on offense No need for Larrier to be on the court.

That would mean he would have to play Williams.

 

[Horatio]

Losing guys we have? We cant beat Tulsa with the guys we have.

I said "some of" and that clearly means not all of them but I get what your saying.
It probably won't happen but don't you think a new coach would want Carlton, Sid,Larrier, Jalen and Vital to stay along with the incoming recruits?

 

[superjohn]

Ollie's under contract until 2021? Short of some sort of smoking gun from the NCAA that would vacate his buyout, we are S.O.L. correct? Total bummer because pretty much everyone has nailed it on the head - he does literally nothing well and is sinking the program fast.

Benedict has been done with him for a while, trying to find a way to finance the buyout. Just hope it doesn't get ugly.

 

[KodiacKemba]

The players failed to get the ball to the hot hand second half n unfortunately his name was Polley ... numerous times they failed to swing him the ball selfish team ... can’t wait til next year

 

[g_smith]

Really hope that Danny Hurley would like to coach us even though the American isnt a “P5” I think he can turn things around relatively quickly

He could have us winning this conference in the regular season like we thought we would be doing every year... And eventually that would ideally get us out of the conference.

 

[Woof 101]

No - that sort of thing is reserved for some sort of malfeasance.

I don’t want him humiliated, I just want the program to move on from something that clearly is not working.

Ahh you hit the nail on the head but not directly . I would be willing to bet a fair amount as a non gambler, that Suzie and Dave are praying the feds come up with some sort of malfeasance however so slight. Thus they have to let KO go with apologies and NO buy out as it is just cause. This in turn saves JC from the same sort of humiliation. He shoved KO up Whard's back side but he is not responsible for him making a mistake that would get him fired.

I have given KO a lot of slack knowing how much the CR has changed the level of recruiting. Having said that what I witnessed tonight live had me shaking my head. I have to believe I can't remember any UConn team that played so soft and I am going back five decades. I find it hard to believe KO played for JC! They did get more rebounds tonight but many of them were the "oh there's the ball" type. NOBODY crashes the boards, everyone is afraid to shoot, pumping the ball at the basket one time giving the defender the time to close the gap. Getting the ball under the basket with space and putting it on the floor before going up? That is 7th grade level silly. DEFENSE ...a guard dropped a career high 30 on them. I'll stop, everyone here see's it.

There are some talented guys on this team but JC would have been yanking them out like shaking ripe apples off a tree. KO let's them play on and when they come out they get a chest pat or hand shake. He has nothing for the officials but then again when you look as bad as he has why let them help expose it. On one Tulsa position they had a VERY obvious moving screen followed by a double dribble....nothing. JC would have been at mid court close to or getting T'd up....
I don't want him humiliated either but it has gotten to the point and beyond of embarrassment for all. I now hope Suzie and Dave get the financial edge they need as everyone knows KO's contract has them and the school in a $$$$ corner...

 

[Travelman6]

This is a post made out of desperation and coming out of left field. But you know what is said, desperate times call for desperate measures. I want to mention some under the radar guys, some of which are young, others who have remained solid for a while. At the very least, maybe one of the following can be convinced to come along with another bigger name to become assistant (unlikely I guess). I tried to remain under 50, but all guys are 54 or younger with a few under 40 even.

Other coaches not mentioned a lot, if at all.

1. Scott Nagy, 52
In his 23rd year!
Did a great job in D2, struggled, obviously on the move to D1 and as an independent but has done a good job with South Dakota State in the past few years. Why the heck not?

2. Porter Moser, 49
14 years of experience but with some gaps
Really only one good season, this current one, to speak of: 22–5 and 12-3 in conference
One average season at 24-13 and CBI champs

3. Leon Rice, 54
8 years experience
2 good seasons, 2 average seasons, 2 acceptable seasons

4. Nate Oats, 43
Just 3 years experience
Solid in his third year, decent by conference standards but nothing notable nationally the first two years.

5. Earl Grant, 41
Just 4 years experience, but each year is a marked improvement with an NIT appearance last year

6. Chris Jans, 48
2 years of experience at D1 but with a lot of gaps in his coaching career.
Currently in his first year with New Mexico St, 20-3.

7. Mark Pope, 45 (former Indiana Pacers player)
Just 3 years experience
Improvement each year so far, 17-8 this year

6. Pat Kelsey, 42
6 years of experience
Has slowly been getting better over the first 5 years though this year seems to be a bit of a drop off.

7. Joe Dooley, 52
9 years experience
Kept FGSU steady and respectable and in the post season first 3 years, been getting better since last year.

8. Travis DeCuire, 47
4 years experience
Improved a lot in year two, stumbled a bit in year 3 and having a career year this year.

9. John Brannen, 44
3 years experience
Awful first year, amazing improvement in the 2nd which seems to be continuing in the 3rd.

10. Matt McMahon, 39
Just 3 years experience
Already has 20 wins this season, first in conference

11. Wes Miller, 35
Currently in his 7th year already
Seems to be finally turning a corner and is still super young. A younger conference opponent of Forbes too.

12. Ron Hunter, 52
23 years experience.

People might scoff, but why not Tommy Amaker?
People have mentioned Tom Crean, but I am not against it. Same with Steve Forbes.
I imagine John Becker (Vermont) has already been mentioned.
Mark Schmidt does not have the profile, quite, that would impress Uconn IMO. Same with Nathan Davis.
Kermit Davis is pushing 60, otherwise I would mention him.
Randy Bennett is with St. Marys and I doubt at this juncture (55 y.o.) would leave them for Uconn.

 

[Stainmaster]

This is a post made out of desperation and coming out of left field. But you know what is said, desperate times call for desperate measures. I want to mention some under the radar guys, some of which are young, others who have remained solid for a while. At the very least, maybe one of the following can be convinced to come along with another bigger name to become assistant (unlikely I guess). I tried to remain under 50, but all guys are 54 or younger with a few under 40 even.

Other coaches not mentioned a lot, if at all.

1. Scott Nagy, 52
In his 23rd year!
Did a great job in D2, struggled, obviously on the move to D1 and as an independent but has done a good job with South Dakota State in the past few years. Why the heck not?

2. Porter Moser, 49
14 years of experience but with some gaps
Really only one good season, this current one, to speak of: 22–5 and 12-3 in conference
One average season at 24-13 and CBI champs

3. Leon Rice, 54
8 years experience
2 good seasons, 2 average seasons, 2 acceptable seasons

4. Nate Oats, 43
Just 3 years experience
Solid in his third year, decent by conference standards but nothing notable nationally the first two years.

5. Earl Grant, 41
Just 4 years experience, but each year is a marked improvement with an NIT appearance last year

6. Chris Jans, 48
2 years of experience at D1 but with a lot of gaps in his coaching career.
Currently in his first year with New Mexico St, 20-3.

7. Mark Pope, 45 (former Indiana Pacers player)
Just 3 years experience
Improvement each year so far, 17-8 this year

6. Pat Kelsey, 42
6 years of experience
Has slowly been getting better over the first 5 years though this year seems to be a bit of a drop off.

7. Joe Dooley, 52
9 years experience
Kept FGSU steady and respectable and in the post season first 3 years, been getting better since last year.

8. Travis DeCuire, 47
4 years experience
Improved a lot in year two, stumbled a bit in year 3 and having a career year this year.

9. John Brannen, 44
3 years experience
Awful first year, amazing improvement in the 2nd which seems to be continuing in the 3rd.

10. Matt McMahon, 39
Just 3 years experience
Already has 20 wins this season, first in conference

11. Wes Miller, 35
Currently in his 7th year already
Seems to be finally turning a corner and is still super young. A younger conference opponent of Forbes too.

12. Ron Hunter, 52
23 years experience.

People might scoff, but why not Tommy Amaker?
People have mentioned Tom Crean, but I am not against it. Same with Steve Forbes.
I imagine John Becker (Vermont) has already been mentioned.
Mark Schmidt does not have the profile, quite, that would impress Uconn IMO. Same with Nathan Davis.
Kermit Davis is pushing 60, otherwise I would mention him.
Randy Bennett is with St. Marys and I doubt at this juncture (55 y.o.) would leave them for Uconn.

That's a lot of coaches who have never recruited New England/the Northeast.

Aside from that...obviously, Ollie has to go, but to think that at least someone out there would want Ron Hunter coaching UConn or would entertain poaching Utah Valley/Northern Kentucky/Montana's coach...I have no more words.

 

[Travelman6]

That's a lot of coaches who have never recruited New England/the Northeast.

Of course, but as I said, desperate times. I am open to anything at this point. My dream pick up is still Mr. Dan Hurley but trying to be realistic and realizing we are more likely to get a coach closer to those dozen or so than one closer to Dan Hurley as far as prestige, though one can dream. Not really sure which of those 12 has the most experience on the east coast, tbh.

 

[Stainmaster]

Of course, but as I said, desperate times. I am open to anything at this point. My dream pick up is still Mr. Dan Hurley but trying to be realistic and realizing we are more likely to get a coach closer to those dozen or so than one closer to Dan Hurley as far as prestige, though one can dream. Not really sure which of those 12 has the most experience on the east coast, tbh.

Well, a hire from that list means we're boned. Royally.

Say a permanent goodbye to what JC built.

 

[UCDaveD]

I recognize KO negotiating the buyout down is a fantasy of most current fans and would greatly improve the situation going forward, but I caution against marrying oneself to that possibility just because it would feel good.

Negotiated buyouts aren't nearly as rare as you believe.

Arkansas fires coach Pelphrey after 4 seasons

Florida agrees to pay $7.5 million buyout to ex-coach Jim McElwain – The Denver Post

UK settles with Gillispie for $2.98 million

Report: LSU splits with Matt Canada after negotiating down his buyout

Source: Bielema to receive $11.8 million buyout

 

[Purple Stein]

This is a post made out of desperation and coming out of left field. But you know what is said, desperate times call for desperate measures. I want to mention some under the radar guys, some of which are young, others who have remained solid for a while. At the very least, maybe one of the following can be convinced to come along with another bigger name to become assistant (unlikely I guess). I tried to remain under 50, but all guys are 54 or younger with a few under 40 even.

Other coaches not mentioned a lot, if at all.

1. Scott Nagy, 52
In his 23rd year!
Did a great job in D2, struggled, obviously on the move to D1 and as an independent but has done a good job with South Dakota State in the past few years. Why the heck not?

2. Porter Moser, 49
14 years of experience but with some gaps
Really only one good season, this current one, to speak of: 22–5 and 12-3 in conference
One average season at 24-13 and CBI champs

3. Leon Rice, 54
8 years experience
2 good seasons, 2 average seasons, 2 acceptable seasons

4. Nate Oats, 43
Just 3 years experience
Solid in his third year, decent by conference standards but nothing notable nationally the first two years.

5. Earl Grant, 41
Just 4 years experience, but each year is a marked improvement with an NIT appearance last year

6. Chris Jans, 48
2 years of experience at D1 but with a lot of gaps in his coaching career.
Currently in his first year with New Mexico St, 20-3.

7. Mark Pope, 45 (former Indiana Pacers player)
Just 3 years experience
Improvement each year so far, 17-8 this year

6. Pat Kelsey, 42
6 years of experience
Has slowly been getting better over the first 5 years though this year seems to be a bit of a drop off.

7. Joe Dooley, 52
9 years experience
Kept FGSU steady and respectable and in the post season first 3 years, been getting better since last year.

8. Travis DeCuire, 47
4 years experience
Improved a lot in year two, stumbled a bit in year 3 and having a career year this year.

9. John Brannen, 44
3 years experience
Awful first year, amazing improvement in the 2nd which seems to be continuing in the 3rd.

10. Matt McMahon, 39
Just 3 years experience
Already has 20 wins this season, first in conference

11. Wes Miller, 35
Currently in his 7th year already
Seems to be finally turning a corner and is still super young. A younger conference opponent of Forbes too.

12. Ron Hunter, 52
23 years experience.

People might scoff, but why not Tommy Amaker?
People have mentioned Tom Crean, but I am not against it. Same with Steve Forbes.
I imagine John Becker (Vermont) has already been mentioned.
Mark Schmidt does not have the profile, quite, that would impress Uconn IMO. Same with Nathan Davis.
Kermit Davis is pushing 60, otherwise I would mention him.
Randy Bennett is with St. Marys and I doubt at this juncture (55 y.o.) would leave them for Uconn.

Chris Jans is a heck of a coach, but you might want to look into why he has those gaps on his resume.

 

[superjohn]

Of course, but as I said, desperate times. I am open to anything at this point. My dream pick up is still Mr. Dan Hurley but trying to be realistic and realizing we are more likely to get a coach closer to those dozen or so than one closer to Dan Hurley as far as prestige, though one can dream. Not really sure which of those 12 has the most experience on the east coast, tbh.

Hurley is very realistic. From what I've heard they know the urgency and aren't going the penny pinching route like with bringing back Randy and they aren't going to go with some young unproven guy. Hurley is their # 1 and they know there is interest through back-channels. Basketball is UConn's baby and it's gotten to the point where this hire is it for the program.

 

[BlueDogs]

Fire him for cause related to the NCAA investigation and keep him
in court for years chasing his money ... or he can settle and go away for a reasonable payout. We owe KO nothing. He was paid millions, given an elite national basketball power and squandered away something that took decades to build with blood, sweat tears, grit and heroics. Screw him.

 

[Travelman6]

Chris Jans is a heck of a coach, but you might want to look into why he has those gaps on his resume.

Will do.