Ollie Withdrawing from OKC Consideration | Page 5 | The Boneyard

Ollie Withdrawing from OKC Consideration

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
1,131
Reaction Score
2,075
There is no way we don't see this nonsense on a yearly basis. If he has a losing season, it's time to jump. Wins another national championship, it's time to jump. Youngest kid just graduated, it's time to jump.


Until he has said, No enough times. I agree that's not in one year but even pro teams have stopped calling Coach K. Hopefully we can get to that point with KO.
 
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
2,957
Reaction Score
5,401
What was the offer he turned down? How much for how long?

Who the heck knows? There obviously are back channel conversations that take place that the media aren't privy to.

It's been reported enough times that everyone in the OKC organization is fond of Ollie and wanted him to be their coach. Saying he didn't "turn them down" because he didn't officially interview is just semantics.

Can you imagine the panic in Husky Nation (and the delight of every coach recruiting against UConn) if Ollie actually got on a plane to OKC? He shut this whole thing down before it could get to that point.
 
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
161
Reaction Score
144
I like KO, I hope he is here for a long time. I think he handled this situation fine, and I think it's something that is going to come up at least every year or two until he's been here for a decade or longer and it becomes clear he wants to remain coaching college.

BUT...he did not "turn down" the Lakers (last year) and OKC (this year). You can't turn down something that wasn't offered. Was he a candidate? Sure. Maybe even the favorite. But he never even interviewed for those jobs. Let's not get carried away as if he turned them down based on tweets that 24-48 hours ago we were dismissing based on the fact OKC hadn't even fired Brooks yet.


Would you rather he interviewed as opposed to just saying "Not interested"? I think the latter demonstrates more loyalty and/or stability for UConn than the former.
 
Joined
Aug 28, 2011
Messages
8,262
Reaction Score
22,616
You guys are missing the point. The comment was made as if he turned down offers from both the lakers and the thunder. It's just not true, but that doesn't matter on this board so my mistake. I'm happy it never went further than it did.
 
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
6,452
Reaction Score
14,521
Wasnt worried here. Ollie isnt going anywhere anytime soon. I believe the time will come when he moves on to the nba and he absolutely should. He wins a couple more titles and he`ll problably be ready to go.
 
Joined
Mar 16, 2015
Messages
364
Reaction Score
1,359
Even though we will likely have to hear Coach KO's name come up every year as an NBA candidate, he strikes me as a guy who would only leave the program in a good place when he is gone. I'm referring to something similar to how JC had him under his wing and made sure he got an opportunity to carry the torch (there were a lot of questions when JC retired with CR and the postseason ban). Not that he will necessarily have a coach and waiting or anything, but he wouldn't leave the program at a time that would cause so much uncertainty and chaos for our future.

KO loves the program just as much as the rest of us... Probably more seeing as he played here and came all the way back when he could have been anywhere after his NBA career. We will be just fine.
 

temery

What?
Joined
Aug 14, 2011
Messages
20,330
Reaction Score
37,749
Wasnt worried here. Ollie isnt going anywhere anytime soon. I believe the time will come when he moves on to the nba and he absolutely should. He wins a couple more titles and he`ll problably be ready to go.

Other than possibly money, I don't get why the NBA is considered a promotion.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
5,896
Reaction Score
10,476
Other than possibly money, I don't get why the NBA is considered a promotion.
coaching in the nba is more difficult, and a bigger challenge. its professional sports.
 

DALTX

People better get us now ... because it's coming
Joined
Mar 4, 2015
Messages
473
Reaction Score
1,954
In a year that UConn does not make the Tourney, this is free publicity -- shows recruits the value of KO and the integrity of KO.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
5,896
Reaction Score
10,476
chris walker just declared for the draft. reading the tea leaves it looks like donovan is out, although walker might have declared out of sheer stupidity . he's not getting drafted
 
Joined
Aug 5, 2013
Messages
342
Reaction Score
806
The commotion about KO possibly going to OKC was all speculation. It was also based on a poor understanding of Ollie.
It made sense to the pundits that OKC wanted KO. He is a great coach who already has an NCAA ring and is well respected by the 2 players who are the key to that franchise's future. Reasonable conjecture.
It made sense to the pundits that KO would leap if the offer was extended because he would receive a more money for coaching a potential powerhouse with 2 of the top players in the NBA. Reasonable conjecture.
It made sense to the pundits that KO would leap because they believe that UConn is a bad job because the Huskies are in a tidy bowl spiral on the SS AAC. Reasonable conjecture.
However, that speculation discounts KO's character. UConn is not a bad job or a launching point to KO. He would not prefer to coach any other college program, but surely would prefer coaching UConn in a P5 conference.
Pundits did not consider that Ollie may be better suited and derive greater satisfaction from turning out great men, who occasionally cut the nets in April.
Pundits did not consider that Ollie is a family man and , despite his marital issues, still has a daughter to walk to the bus and a son to watch play for Fordham.
Pundits did not consider the family at all. KO has missed enough of their youth.
Pundits did not consider that KO undoubtedly considers work/life balance. You have a better chance to have a life coaching UConn than coaching in the NBA.
Pundits did not consider that if KO leaves UConn he is going to actually feel for the young men who believed in him and his promises to elevate them as people and players. No way he leaves kids hanging.
Pundits did not consider the loyalty that KO feels to Calhoun and the fact that there is no heir apparent to hand the keys to.
That the pundits thought money mattered the most and seized upon the use of the phrase "not pursue" as a clever dodge says much about the pundits and about Ollie. I don't think it ever occurred to KO that his wording was clever. I have to agree with Jacobs, he is not someone to play games with nomenclature to create a false impression while still being able later to deny he lied.
I think KO is will be here long term. I suspect he never gives up coaching college, but the game is changing so there maybe an NBA coaching career. I think UConn will be spotless and self-sustaining before he goes.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Online statistics

Members online
76
Guests online
3,697
Total visitors
3,773

Forum statistics

Threads
157,058
Messages
4,079,727
Members
9,972
Latest member
WillngtnOak


Top Bottom