UConn A.D. on Kevin Ollie and Potential Replacements if fired....

[BigEastPhil]

The A.D. at UConn stated that Ollie is safe thru the end of the season however he will be evaluated at the end of the season. My understanding is that Ollie has several years left on his contract and he won't be a cheap termination - however his 27-29 coaching record over the current and past season has many UConn natives restless and rightfully so.

Personally I don't think much of Ollie as a HC (he won the title with Calhoun's recruits and because Napier I believe was on fire) but I think he'll survive for next season to right the ship unless Danny Hurley is interested who I can see as a legitimate candidate for UConn given one of Hurley's pre-requisites is that he wants to be able to compete for 4 and 5 star recruits which I believe he can do at UConn - or at many other schools as well.

Plus with Hurley, I can see UConn making a huge push for admission into the Big East where both UConn and Hurley would be a natural fit - and the BE would drool to have UConn come back.

Other candidates I can see are: Jeff Capel (Duke Assistant); Coach Pikeill (though extremely remote given his expensive buyout) - however neither Capel or Pikeill is sufficient to warrant an Ollie termination.

 

[bac2therac]

URI is like 19-3? I think they have a top 10 rpi. Hurley is definitely going somewhere after this season and UConn would be a great spot for him. Not sure UConn would consider hiring Pikiell given the overall record at RU. Despite being a UConn guy I think they want to shoot higher with someone who had proven success at a higher level

 

[RUenvsci]

I just don’t see the UCONN job as a desirable one.... the stock of that program is way down, and the AAC doesn’t help. I see Hurley going to a bigger time conference, and I don’t see Pikiell taking a step back.

 

[MikeR0102]

I just don’t see the UCONN job as a desirable one.... the stock of that program is way down, and the AAC doesn’t help. I see Hurley going to a bigger time conference, and I don’t see Pikiell taking a step back.

Right coach can win there, just like anywhere. They have 4 national championships in the last 20 years. They aren't in an 8+ bid Big East anymore, so they are probably closer to what Memphis was in CUSA or Gonzaga is in the WCC then what they were 10 years ago.

 

[dconifer]

Hurley's name has come up in discussions (among fans) at Maryland, whose message board is melting down at this moment due to another close loss...

edit: There's actually a thread on Tom "Clappy" Crean.

 

[TRU2RU]

UConn would owe Ollie $9 million if they fire him after this season....not gonna happen.

 

[RocktheRac]

Would we have tp play UConn if Pike goes there?

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Hurley's name has come up in discussions (among fans) at Maryland, whose message board is melting down at this moment due to another close loss...

edit: There's actually a thread on Tom "Clappy" Crean.

Terps fans need to take a break from the sauce. Turgeon will have Maryland in the top 25 next year with a healthy roster.

 

[BigEastPhil]

Terps fans need to take a break from the sauce. Turgeon will have Maryland in the top 25 next year with a healthy roster.

Agreed. If Jackson stays, I think they're Top 10 material as they have a kick ass recruiting class as well as Jackson; Huerter; Cowan; Fernando etc

 

[RU-ROCS]

The A.D. at UConn stated that Ollie is safe thru the end of the season however he will be evaluated at the end of the season. My understanding is that Ollie has several years left on his contract and he won't be a cheap termination - however his 27-29 coaching record over the current and past season has many UConn natives restless and rightfully so.

Personally I don't think much of Ollie as a HC (he won the title with Calhoun's recruits and because Napier I believe was on fire) but I think he'll survive for next season to right the ship unless Danny Hurley is interested who I can see as a legitimate candidate for UConn given one of Hurley's pre-requisites is that he wants to be able to compete for 4 and 5 star recruits which I believe he can do at UConn - or at many other schools as well.

Plus with Hurley, I can see UConn making a huge push for admission into the Big East where both UConn and Hurley would be a natural fit - and the BE would drool to have UConn come back.

Other candidates I can see are: Jeff Capel (Duke Assistant); Coach Pikeill (though extremely remote given his expensive buyout) - however neither Capel or Pikeill is sufficient to warrant an Ollie termination.

I believe that UConn would be the only non-Catholic school in the Big East. So, that conference is no longer a “good fit” for UConn, especially because it no longer has football.

 

[socaldave]

The A.D. at UConn stated that Ollie is safe thru the end of the season however he will be evaluated at the end of the season. My understanding is that Ollie has several years left on his contract and he won't be a cheap termination - however his 27-29 coaching record over the current and past season has many UConn natives restless and rightfully so.

Personally I don't think much of Ollie as a HC (he won the title with Calhoun's recruits and because Napier I believe was on fire) but I think he'll survive for next season to right the ship unless Danny Hurley is interested who I can see as a legitimate candidate for UConn given one of Hurley's pre-requisites is that he wants to be able to compete for 4 and 5 star recruits which I believe he can do at UConn - or at many other schools as well.

Plus with Hurley, I can see UConn making a huge push for admission into the Big East where both UConn and Hurley would be a natural fit - and the BE would drool to have UConn come back.

Other candidates I can see are: Jeff Capel (Duke Assistant); Coach Pikeill (though extremely remote given his expensive buyout) - however neither Capel or Pikeill is sufficient to warrant an Ollie termination.

The big east isn’t going to have UConn join because they hired Hurley

 

[Vegas pj]

I believe that UConn would be the only non-Catholic school in the Big East. So, that conference is no longer a “good fit” for UConn, especially because it no longer has football.

Butler

 

[ecojew]

Is Butler a Catholic university?

Can't see UConn being able to afford to waste money on a huge buyout plus whatever high salary their new coach might command. The income just isn't there any more. AAC payouts are way below the old BE payouts and UConn still has its expensive football program to support. I don't think they can drop down to 1-AA the way some suggest. That would mean even greater losses and even lower attendance. People aren't going to travel to Hartford to see UConn play UNH, Maine, etc. in football.

And remember, they still have Geno's high salary to pay. At least he continues to earn it, though.

 

[Shimmy24]

Agreed. If Jackson stays, I think they're Top 10 material as they have a kick ass recruiting class as well as Jackson; Huerter; Cowan; Fernando etc

He won’t stay, and I have zero confidence that Turgeon can perform to expectations. Two years ago with our top five preseason team, we were lucky to make th Sweet Sixteen by beating two double digit seeds.

As for UConn, it’ll be really interesting to see who they can pull in and it’s an extremely telling hire. Does the program’s standing in the AAC trump the recent and historical success the program has had?

 

[G- RUnit]

I think Hurley to UConn makes all the sense in the world. Just wonder if Hurley thinks he can do better.

Likewise, UConn to the Big East makes sense but if they want to be at the big boy table they need football.

 

[shields]

Wichita State in that conference now, not easy.

 

[TDIrish27]

UConn should wake up and go 1-AA in football or drop it altogether and get back in the BE.

The AAC is never going to allow them to play football only in their league.

Football in the Northeast without a Power 5 affiliation is nothing but a bottomless pit of red ink.

 

[RU677381]

URI is like 19-3? I think they have a top 10 rpi. Hurley is definitely going somewhere after this season and UConn would be a great spot for him. Not sure UConn would consider hiring Pikiell given the overall record at RU. Despite being a UConn guy I think they want to shoot higher with someone who had proven success at a higher level

Pikiell has a track record at Stony Brook of finishing what he started. He would lose lots of credibility moving to UCONN. Also, UCONN's non
Power 5 status is a strong negative regarding the desirability of the position.

 

[knights1212]

Maybe Turgeon can go to U Conn if Maryland lets him go in a year or two.

 

[Leonard23]

Ollie's huge buyout is certainly an issue, but they may not have to pay any of it, if the NCAA investigation finds that Ollie violated NCAA rules. I'd guess that Danny Hurley would jump at the UConn job, unless he has an ACC or B1G opportunity.

 

[MV9000]

Hurley will be going to a bigger gig then Uconn with their dead conference. Just my opinion.

Pikiell is now relocked up and i dont see him at his current state what they need. If we blow up or keep trending in the right direction, recruiting and metric wise i think down the line its a possibility. But not before he hits post season here.

 

[Upstream]

UConn should wake up and go 1-AA in football or drop it altogether and get back in the BE.

The AAC is never going to allow them to play football only in their league.

Football in the Northeast without a Power 5 affiliation is nothing but a bottomless pit of red ink.

The problem with dropping to 1AA for football is that is an even deeper pit of red ink. You save a little money on scholarship costs due to 23 fewer scholarships. But scholarship costs are funny money, since the scholarship cost is money paid by the athletic department to the university for the cost of tuition, and the cost of tuition is much higher than the actual out-of-pocket costs to educate 23 additional players. And you have the room/board costs of 23 additional scholarships (UConn estimates this at about $12,000 per year, but even if you assume $20,000 per year, that is still less than $500,000 per year in total). Other than that, there are no real cost savings to being 1AA. But you give up conference money, attendance, and the ability to charge more for bought games.

 

[RU-ROCS]

Butler

You are correct. They are the lone exception. I suppose only they get to play on Sundays. ;)

 

[Russ Wood]

Butler

I believe that Butler has a church affiliation, though it is not Catholic, in its founding and has a "School of Religion."

It is a private school which I think is a prerequisite for admission to the Big East

 

[Russ Wood]

Pikiell has a track record at Stony Brook of finishing what he started. He would lose lots of credibility moving to UCONN. Also, UCONN's non
Power 5 status is a strong negative regarding the desirability of the position.

I'm not saying he's going anywhere but never underestimate the pull of one's alma mater.

Plenty of coaches have left good jobs to go to their alma mater when it was down. I know coaches that left solid jobs to go to their alma mater when their alma mater was facing NCAA probation.

 

[TobyTyler1]

Hurley will be going to a bigger gig then Uconn with their dead conference. Just my opinion.

Agree with this. Memphis falling apart and unable to recruit has hurt. SMU looking good though, bubble team.

 

[Plum Street]

Yes, most of us think pike will do a good job here . But let’s be honest he hasn’t accomplished a thing yet . UConn isn’t hiring pike off the two terrible seasons he’s had here .

 

[Mr_Twister]

If Coach Pikiell bails for UConn, which I believe is very unlikely, AD Hobbs’ first call will be to the agent for (ex-Rutgers) Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk. Program builder, teams goes to the NCAAs, knows the Midwest recruiting area, his teams execute and do not beat themselves, and has family ties to the Midwest.

http://utrockets.com/coaches.aspx?rc=336

 

[friar10]

The A.D. at UConn stated that Ollie is safe thru the end of the season however he will be evaluated at the end of the season. My understanding is that Ollie has several years left on his contract and he won't be a cheap termination - however his 27-29 coaching record over the current and past season has many UConn natives restless and rightfully so.

Personally I don't think much of Ollie as a HC (he won the title with Calhoun's recruits and because Napier I believe was on fire) but I think he'll survive for next season to right the ship unless Danny Hurley is interested who I can see as a legitimate candidate for UConn given one of Hurley's pre-requisites is that he wants to be able to compete for 4 and 5 star recruits which I believe he can do at UConn - or at many other schools as well.

Plus with Hurley, I can see UConn making a huge push for admission into the Big East where both UConn and Hurley would be a natural fit - and the BE would drool to have UConn come back.

Other candidates I can see are: Jeff Capel (Duke Assistant); Coach Pikeill (though extremely remote given his expensive buyout) - however neither Capel or Pikeill is sufficient to warrant an Ollie termination.

First off the UConn job is nowhere near the job it used to be. I personally think Hurley would be out of his mind to take it . They are possibly going on probation and their fans are totally unrealistic. He would be way better off grabbing the Maryland job if that opens which I think it will.

Also believe me the Big East is not drooling over them or anyone for that matter. They are only taking one other program eventually and it will not be UCONN. They want to keep the double round robin schedule.

 

[rubaseball78]

Yes, most of us think pike will do a good job here . But let’s be honest he hasn’t accomplished a thing yet . UConn isn’t hiring pike off the two terrible seasons he’s had here .

Have you been living under a rock?

 

[Shimmy24]

First off the UConn job is nowhere near the job it used to be. I personally think Hurley would be out of his mind to take it . They are possibly going on probation and their fans are totally unrealistic. He would be way better off grabbing the Maryland job if that opens which I think it will.

Also believe me the Big East is not drooling over them or anyone for that matter. They are only taking one other program eventually and it will not be UCONN. They want to keep the double round robin schedule.

There’s a 0.0% chance Turgeon is gone this year. He has a huge buyout and there is no permanent AD in place. Next year’s another story if they underachieve again, but he’s safe for now.

 

[TDIrish27]

And there is no better fit for the BE in Hoops than UConn-----but it won't happen at least for awhile.

 

[friar10]

And there is no better fit for the BE in Hoops than UConn-----but it won't happen at least for awhile.

Isn't it something how when the original Big East broke up the word was how sorry the basketball only schools would be . Seems to be the exact opposite Pittsburgh and UCONN are dumpster fires Syracuse's program had gone downhill. Louisville looks like it is in trouble . BC looks like they may have the first season over 500 since the breakup. In the meantime Nova is a National Championship threat every year Seton Hall and Providence programs in better shape then in a long time . Georgetown is the only basketball only that has not done very well since the breakup. Rutgers may be turning the corner will have to see. But it definitely seems like the basketball only's have made out better.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

If Coach Pikiell bails for UConn, which I believe is very unlikely, AD Hobbs’ first call will be to the agent for (ex-Rutgers) Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk. Program builder, teams goes to the NCAAs, knows the Midwest recruiting area, his teams execute and do not beat themselves, and has family ties to the Midwest.

http://utrockets.com/coaches.aspx?rc=336

A guy that was the #1 assistant here during the Kevin Bannon scandal? Not gonna happen.

 

[Russ Wood]

Isn't it something how when the original Big East broke up the word was how sorry the basketball only schools would be . Seems to be the exact opposite Pittsburgh and UCONN are dumpster fires Syracuse's program had gone downhill. Louisville looks like it is in trouble . BC looks like they may have the first season over 500 since the breakup. In the meantime Nova is a National Championship threat every year Seton Hall and Providence programs in better shape then in a long time . Georgetown is the only basketball only that has not done very well since the breakup. Rutgers may be turning the corner will have to see. But it definitely seems like the basketball only's have made out better.

BC left the Big East in 2005. How do they even factor into the this?

Georgetown was a 4 seed and won 22 games just two seasons ago.

I don't think Connecticut is a dumpster fire...yet The last couple of seasons they've had injuries and they've had some guys transfer out. They just happened to get young at the wrong time.

Now if they get hammered by the NCAA it could become a dumpster fire.

 

[TDIrish27]

Not from me

Regarding track record since breakup I think Cuse and UConn lost their identity when they left the BE----ditto BC .

They won with NYC kids and those kids loved the atmosphere of BE games at The Garden and the BET in March.

Pitt should ever have never lost Jamie Dixon and Stallings was a terrible hire.

Both Pitt and BC completely over their heads in ACC .

Louisville did win the National Championship a few years back but their wounds are largely self inflicted but they always got a kid or two from the NE and that has kinda stopped.

On the other hand it's worked out well for Notre Dame----the league has been good for us.

 

[Mr_Twister]

A guy that was the #1 assistant here during the Kevin Bannon scandal? Not gonna happen.

Rutgers is their own worst enemy. Kowalczyk has proven himself over a long period of time. Rutgers should consider itself lucky if Kowalczyk considered them. Rutgers has hired multiple basketball coaches with lesser credentials and accomplishments.

 

[SkilletHead2]

I'm not saying he's going anywhere but never underestimate the pull of one's alma mater.

Plenty of coaches have left good jobs to go to their alma mater when it was down. I know coaches that left solid jobs to go to their alma mater when their alma mater was facing NCAA probation.

Founded as a non-sectarian Christian church dedicated to opposition to slavery. Not Catholic.

 

[dpwhite]

Rutgers is their own worst enemy. Kowalczyk has proven himself over a long period of time. Rutgers should consider itself lucky if Kowalczyk considered them. Rutgers has hired multiple basketball coaches with lesser credentials and accomplishments.

You mean Tod Kowalczyk who's never been to the NCAAs as a head coach?

I think this argument is moot anyway, as I don't expect Pikiell to leave, but...

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Rutgers is their own worst enemy. Kowalczyk has proven himself over a long period of time. Rutgers should consider itself lucky if Kowalczyk considered them. Rutgers has hired multiple basketball coaches with lesser credentials and accomplishments.

16 years as a head coach, never made the NCAAs and made the NIT once and lost in the first round.

My memory is a bit hazy but I believe he was rumored to be involved in some other unsavory personal activity when he was here that may have led to him departing before Bannon but, again, I could be completely off base.

In any case, I'm underwhelmed by those accomplishments at Green Bay and Toledo.