Which 5, Current Head Coaches Would Be Your Top Picks to Succeed JC?

[dogpause]

In any order, or no particular order. I'm curious as to how much agreement there will be.

Thanks

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Honestly, I'm not sure this job is going to be as attractive as some think. It's very difficult to follow a legend. I think JC stays until he's comfortable that Ollie is ready.

 

[61cygni]

Smart, Stevens, Few, Martin, Haith. Subject to change.

 

[Adios]

I've heard legends that Martin is not exactly ethical. Stevens and Few would be good.

 

[Connecticut34]

Sean Miller

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I have no problem with the idea of Ollie succeeding JC. The only in-house candidate I would want at the moment however is Ollie. There was a time when I was convinced that Leitao was going to be JC's replacement but I also felt that Hobbs would have been a far better choice. I no longer believe that Leitao is in anywhere near as good standing in JC's eyes as he had been (he would be on this staff if he were) and I no longer see Hobbs as a great candidate as a head coach (but I do believe he is an excellent assistant).

If we were to assume that we will not take someone for JC's tree, my list is very sghort:

1) Shaka Smart - He teams remind me so much of our early 1990's teams its scary.

2) Brad Stevens - In a setting like UConn he'll win 25 games in a bad year, be a threat to win it all in a good year and have more good years than bad over any time span.

 

[boog204]

in no order... smart, few, anthony grant (alabama), billy donovan, ollie. i'm sure there are others I can't think of right now.

 

[cohenzone]

I go with Few, or Haith Not that I am against Ollie per se, but I think going to an assistant, and one who has been an assistant for only a few years, could be a colossal mistake. Can't be sentimental about choosing JCs successor. Besides, I have never really been crazy about JC's approach to offense and maybe a change away from his approach wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[uconn_jack]

While I have always loved Ollie as a player, and presume he is doing a good job as an assistant coach, I don't understand why everyone here is so infatuated with the idea of him becoming JC's replacement as HC? While bringing in someone from the UConn family would be great for continuity and would continue to instill JC's approach to basketball, where has Ollie yet to prove he would be a good HC? Yes, he has a high BBIQ and being a PG has natural leadership qualities, but it would still be a huge risk to have a totally untested coach take the reins of a major program. But I guess if JC is in fact grooming him for it and ultimately has faith in him, who am I to question. That said, with all the speculation that this is JC's intention, has there ever been any statements or clues to this?

 

[uconn_jack]

Besides, I have never really been crazy about JC's approach to offense and maybe a change away from his approach wouldn't be a bad thing.

I'm with you here. When UConn wins, its because of defense, tenacity, and/or a superstar go-to player who takes over games. Its rarely been because of a particularly effective offense. These things aren't mutually exclusive, I have never understood why our offense has always been so limited.

 

[UConnDan97]

It's hard for me to come up with the right name, but I think I know the profile of the new coach. They are likely going to want someone in their late 30's / early 40's with at least some proven track record, unless it is an anointed JC disciple (like Kevin Ollie, who at least has a proven pro career record). Certainly names like Stevens and Smart are going to fall into the list of candidates. I highly doubt that Few will be a consideration; he's a great coach, but he is the Jim Calhoun of the west, from the standpoint of being a legend at one program (Gonzaga) and likely will never leave there. He could have had many other high-profile jobs if he was willing to leave in the past.

I also have been wondering about whether or not UConn would look at any coaches from the NBA. I think it's a very low probability, but I guess you never say never...

 

[Hoophound]

1. Sean Miller (if possible, hands down option #1)
2. Kevin Ollie (with Hobbs and Miller on staff and very well paid) recruiting will be great, half the battle
3. Brad Stevens (Can't deny the success , replace with Shaka if Shaka hadn't gone to Illinois)
4. Karl Hobbs (I think he will be a very successful head coach again)
5. Billy Donovan (Gainesville loves him but New England never leaves the soul, you never know)

 

[TheRogers]

Steve Alford
Brad Stevens
Sean Miller
Kevin Ollie
Thad Motta

 

[Dann]

u guys are just nuts with this smart and stevens stuff. its been going on for way to long and i honestly can't wait for those two to land at illinois and somewhere else to get there names off this board. they are great young coaches, but come on. big time programs that put out pros and think of them selves as big boys dont run the systems that those 2 guys run. they run systems that can be highly sucessful in mid major confs if they recruit well. so they do well but lets not get that twisted with the big leagues. there is a reason the cuse zone and the pitino press/run are so tough and always talked about. its becuase its rare that stuff comes around at this level. i dont know about u guys, but i dont really favor uconn becoming a niche team. those programs dont put out nba guys and win as much in the ncaat.

i'm 100% behind this being a family thing. i think some1 like a allen would also come join the bench in time. my only wish is they name which one of the 2 will the the coach sooner and do a waiting thing. that way things become more clear for this fanbase as half of it it mentally shaky on here so i could only imagine real life. let that coach eventually be able to run a timeout during a game and walk the sidelines while jc gets to sit in a chair. thats what i want to see 2 years from now. jc will be a jt like figure to the program after he leaves which is great imho, nothing better than that. he will not leave here until he feels that uconn is all set. apr/ncaa/pf/xl vs gam.....were not all set right now. hes got 2 more years atleast if not 3. i wish all the whos your next coach stuff would calm down somewhat.

as for if warde blows this thing up which i would not ba a fan of
-miller is a easy pick for a interview no doubt
-donovan would be interesting to flirt with but i'm not sure if hes more than a good coach. those teams he had were more a product of having those kids them him coaching?????
-knight i would be interested in down the road if he does something at lamar or elsewhere.
-wright if hes willing to change or adapt some of his ways to a more pro style. great coach, great recruitier, great media guy.
-other names to think about, maybe few or the alabama coach gets a quick looks.

any one that picks barnes, mata,weber type guys doesn't understand what we need as a program....heck throw howland in that group also.

the name this board will start pumping soon will be: hurley. i want nothing to do with him or cooley.

 

[UConnDan97]

u guys are just nuts with this smart and stevens stuff. its been going on for way to long and i honestly can't wait for those two to land at illinois and somewhere else to get there names off this board. they are great young coaches, but come on. big time programs that put out pros and think of them selves as big boys dont run the systems that those 2 guys run. they run systems that can be highly sucessful in mid major confs if they recruit well. so they do well but lets not get that twisted with the big leagues. there is a reason the cuse zone and the pitino press/run are so tough and always talked about. its becuase its rare that stuff comes around at this level. i dont know about u guys, but i dont really favor uconn becoming a niche team. those programs dont put out nba guys and win as much in the ncaat.

i'm 100% behind this being a family thing. i think some1 like a allen would also come join the bench in time. my only wish is they name which one of the 2 will the the coach sooner and do a waiting thing. that way things become more clear for this fanbase as half of it it mentally shaky on here so i could only imagine real life. let that coach eventually be able to run a timeout during a game and walk the sidelines while jc gets to sit in a chair. thats what i want to see 2 years from now. jc will be a jt like figure to the program after he leaves which is great imho, nothing better than that. he will not leave here until he feels that uconn is all set. apr/ncaa/pf/xl vs gam.....were not all set right now. hes got 2 more years atleast if not 3. i wish all the whos your next coach stuff would calm down somewhat.

as for if warde blows this thing up which i would not ba a fan of
-miller is a easy pick for a interview no doubt
-donovan would be interesting to flirt with but i'm not sure if hes more than a good coach. those teams he had were more a product of having those kids them him coaching?????
-knight i would be interested in down the road if he does something at lamar or elsewhere.
-wright if hes willing to change or adapt some of his ways to a more pro style. great coach, great recruitier, great media guy.
-other names to think about, maybe few or the alabama coach gets a quick looks.

any one that picks barnes, mata,weber type guys doesn't understand what we need as a program....heck throw howland in that group also.

the name this board will start pumping soon will be: hurley. i want nothing to do with him or cooley.

It might not be Smart or Stevens, but I am going equally bonkers over this Miller stuff!! Miller has no chance; I repeat, NO CHANCE of being the next UConn coach, nor do I want him to be.

You mentioned recruiting as a key to the success of people like Smart or Stevens. Guess what? Recruiting is a HUGE part of what UConn does too. Do you believe that Miller is a coach that will attract top talent?? It's actually part of the reason that Ollie is being tagged as the more likely future coach rather than Miller or Hobbs, since many believe that the high-profile recruit will likely relate to Ollie than they will to Hobbs or Miller, whether that's fair or not. So put me down on record as saying that Miller will never be the head coach of UConn. Also, let go of the pipe dreams of Few and Donovan.

Jay Wright is an interesting name to think about, though...

 

[Ts5034]

Probably a 99% chance Ollie gets the job. I dont understand why people still think they will hire and outsider.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Good lord. If Pat Knight is ever named the next UConn coach I won't go to a game during his tenure. That is one of the most ridiculous suggestions I have ever seen.

 

[UConnDan97]

Probably a 99% chance Ollie gets the job. I dont understand why people still think they will hire and outsider.

I would have put it at 99% before Susan Herbst and Warde Manuel came onto the scene. I'm now putting it at 70% or so, since I don't think that they are set in the "Land of Steady Habits" habits, or if they feel similarly about the "Calhoun family tree" like many of the UConn fans and alums do. I could be wrong.

 

[Dann]

It might not be Smart or Stevens, but I am going equally bonkers over this Miller stuff!! Miller has no chance; I repeat, NO CHANCE of being the next UConn coach, nor do I want him to be.

You mentioned recruiting as a key to the success of people like Smart or Stevens. Guess what? Recruiting is a HUGE part of what UConn does too. Do you believe that Miller is a coach that will attract top talent?? It's actually part of the reason that Ollie is being tagged as the more likely future coach rather than Miller or Hobbs, since many believe that the high-profile recruit will likely relate to Ollie than they will to Hobbs or Miller, whether that's fair or not. So put me down on record as saying that Miller will never be the head coach of UConn. Also, let go of the pipe dreams of Few and Donovan.

Jay Wright is an interesting name to think about, though...

your not interested in miller becuase of recruiting??? if anything i was expecting to agure him with some 1 over his x/o's but not recruiting. have you looked at what hes bringing into AZ lately? they are a huge rebuild, indiana like with cream almost. his 2012 class had 4 guys in like the top 25. he can't recruit? is that a joke? lost of his giys had uconn offers and are kids we did go after also btw so its not like he doesn't have a eye for talent. he has a new nice 9mil pf down there to work with recruit wise, just imagine what he could do with ours...he is one of the few guys that can recruit higher that ko/kh and i'm completely fine at recruiting the level were at now with those guys on the bench fwiw. his 2011 class was also big time, and both years hes got atleast 1 kid from nyc-ne area to come to az.

 

[UConnDan97]

your not interested in miller becuase of recruiting??? if anything i was expecting to agure him with some 1 over his x/o's but not recruiting. have you looked at what hes bringing into AZ lately? they are a huge rebuild, indiana like with cream almost. his 2012 class had 4 guys in like the top 25. he can't recruit? is that a joke? lost of his giys had uconn offers and are kids we did go after also btw so its not like he doesn't have a eye for talent. he has a new nice 9mil pf down there to work with recruit wise, just imagine what he could do with ours...he is one of the few guys that can recruit higher that ko/kh and i'm completely fine at recruiting the level were at now with those guys on the bench fwiw. his 2011 class was also big time, and both years hes got atleast 1 kid from nyc-ne area to come to az.

My apologies, HuskyfanDan. I thought you were referring to Glen Miller, our current assistant coach (that's why I made the comment about him and Hobbs being lower on the totem pole than Ollie). You were referring to Sean Miller of Arizona! Gotcha. Okay, now we're on the same page, and neither one of us looks as crazy as we did 5 minutes ago.....or do we?

 

[Dann]

Good lord. If Pat Knight is ever named the next UConn coach I won't go to a game during his tenure. That is one of the most ridiculous suggestions I have ever seen.

i said i would be interested in seeing what he does. that name and his bball iq family following are going to land him something one day again if he can show some promise. hes now at a mid major. if he can continue to build on what he did this year and eventually get a major job( a upgrade to a bcs confs basically or another top team school) then we will see. if he does well there this could be years down the road and perfect time for us. who knows. his name is one you keep a eye on though.

 

[uconnsox23]

Sean Miller

I think miller would be a great fit here. he can recruit really well and he coaches a similar style to what we are useful. I don't know if he would leave arizona though. They have a lot of good recruits coming in for the next couple seasons and he has a family.

 

[Dann]

My apologies, HuskyfanDan. I thought you were referring to Glen Miller, our current assistant coach (that's why I made the comment about him and Hobbs being lower on the totem pole than Ollie). You were referring to Sean Miller of Arizona! Gotcha. Okay, now we're on the same page, and neither one of us looks as crazy as we did 5 minutes ago.....or do we?

were both crazy. we display this every day on here.

 

[GemParty]

A scenerio that wouldn't shock me. Blaney retires, before Calhoun. Ollie moves into a 2nd in command role for the last couple years JC coaches. Herbst/Manuel/Calhoun agree on Calhouns final year. Fans/Alum/Donors will know when this date is, one year ahead, with Calhoun getting a final Victory lap. It will also be announced that Calhoun is on staff- working with the program moving forward. Ollie becomes the coach in waiting. Then, one phone call to a recently retired/bored/friend Mr. Ray Allen occurs. Ollie/Ray visit living rooms for the next decade- winning Multiple titles with their recruits and the program they helped create. Why not?

 

[Robertelamin]

Huskymagic should be near the top of the list IMO.