Don DeVoe question...

#1
Outdors21

Outdors21

A new hope.
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#1
Why did he leave UT? He seemingly was pretty successful, and I can't find any info on why he left.

What's the story?
 
#2
#2
The experts will chime in...I recall trouble with both the football and basketball teams...sucking wind.

Favorite saying going around was "Go Johnny Go, and take Devoe".

Times were not so good in the win column and a change was needed.
 
#3
#3
My guess would be something to do with Doug Dickey. You see how Dickey pretty much destroyed the program after that.
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#4
#4
He left to pursue a career in music with his friends Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins, iirc.
 
#6
#6
VolsSportsFan said:
My guess would be something to do with Doug Dickey. You see how Dickey pretty much destroyed the program after that.
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Click to expand...

Yeah our sports programs are in much better shape now that he's gone.
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#7
#7
Seems like he got stuck in a rut and his teams could not make the NCAA tournament.

He got UT to the dance early on, but then there was about a 5 year drought with no tourney appearance.

Went out in first round in 1989 with a blow out loss to West Virginia.

Had just opened humongous arena and bball team needed to do better to keep it filled.

Unfortunately, subsequent coaching hires were even worse than DeVoe.

TB Arena was invaded by old people who bought up all the lower level season tickets. Those old people are still living, still have those seats, show up late, leave early, and refuse to show enthusiasm during a game.
 
#8
#8
DyronNix said:
Seems like he got stuck in a rut and his teams could not make the NCAA tournament.

He got UT to the dance early on, but then there was about a 5 year drought with no tourney appearance.

Went out in first round in 1989 with a blow out loss to West Virginia.

Had just opened humongous arena and bball team needed to do better to keep it filled.

Unfortunately, subsequent coaching hires were even worse than DeVoe.

TB Arena was invaded by old people who bought up all the lower level season tickets. Those old people are still living, still have those seats, show up late, leave early, and refuse to show enthusiasm during a game.
Click to expand...

I cheered as loud as I could all season and never left early. Not as hard to get out of Knoxville after BB as it is football. lol
 
#9
#9
He didnt recruit very well with a hit every now and then .. He did NOT embrace the three point shot at ALL and the arena needed to be filled as well.
 
#10
#10
People seem to talk about Devoe like he was really successful. Looking at his record, it doesn't seem like he was anything special. I don't remember him, so I'm not saying he was terrible, but his record didn't really seem impressive at all.

Was he fired, or did he just leave on his own terms?
 
#11
#11
DeVoe couldnt recruit. He claimed it was because he wasn't cheating and lowering academic standards like everyone else. He was a decent coach, just couldnt recruit well enough to stay on top.
 
#12
#12
tvolsfan said:
People seem to talk about Devoe like he was really successful. Looking at his record, it doesn't seem like he was anything special. I don't remember him, so I'm not saying he was terrible, but his record didn't really seem impressive at all.

Was he fired, or did he just leave on his own terms?
Click to expand...

Doug Dickey fired DeVoe. The shot clock hurt DeVoe more than anything. We had some pretty good teams under Devoe. They were well coached and played hard. I remember Bobby Knight saying that UT would be sorry for letting DeVoe go and he was right. The bigger mistake though, was hiring Wade Houston. Personally I liked DeVoe, he was a good coach and did everything the right way. Not a great recruiter but got the most out of his teams.
 
#13
#13
Jeb said:
Yeah our sports programs are in much better shape now that he's gone.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Dickey hired Wade Houston and let UK merchandise be sold at TBA when UK came to town. Not much else needs to be said.
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#14
#14
orange_peel said:
Doug Dickey fired DeVoe. The shot clock hurt DeVoe more than anything. We had some pretty good teams under Devoe. They were well coached and played hard. I remember Bobby Knight saying that UT would be sorry for letting DeVoe go and he was right. The bigger mistake though, was hiring Wade Houston. Personally I liked DeVoe, he was a good coach and did everything the right way. Not a great recruiter but got the most out of his teams.
Click to expand...

Wade was a top assistant for Denny Crum and his kid was one of the best high school players in the country.

What could possibly go wrong?
 
#15
#15
I liked DeVoe. It was too bad that he could't win enough. I really thought Houston would do well. Shows how little I know.
 
#16
#16
DyronNix said:
Seems like he got stuck in a rut and his teams could not make the NCAA tournament.

He got UT to the dance early on, but then there was about a 5 year drought with no tourney appearance.

Went out in first round in 1989 with a blow out loss to West Virginia.

Had just opened humongous arena and bball team needed to do better to keep it filled.

Unfortunately, subsequent coaching hires were even worse than DeVoe.

TB Arena was invaded by old people who bought up all the lower level season tickets. Those old people are still living, still have those seats, show up late, leave early, and refuse to show enthusiasm during a game.
Click to expand...

From the looks at Neyland on saturdays the last few years, I would say we have the same problem going on there. I know we do. It's getting worse each year. There is nothing we can do about it. Money and donations do the talking!
 
#17
#17
eVOLintent said:
He left to pursue a career in music with his friends Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins, iirc.
Click to expand...

THAT post ^^^ is POISON...p,p,p,p,p,POISON...

On a serious note...DeVoe was coach when I was there in the early/mid '80s and did a fine job. Never a stellar job, but was somewhat consistently winning/competing until the late '80s.
 
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#20
#20
DeVoe was as good a bench coach as there was. He could adjust in game as good as anyone. He was fired by Dickey who claimed during the season DeVoe must get the team back to the NCAA tourney which he did but they got beat in round 1. His firing was not well accepted in the coaching ranks and led to some of the poor hires of Dickey who never cared for basketball to start with.
In the early years DeVoe whipped Joe B Hall on a regular basis as well as Dale Brown. If he had been a good recruiter he would have been at UT for a long time but he was not.
 
#21
#21
Seems to me the shot clock got in his way.... he never was much of a recruiter, but got a lot out of his players until the shot clock rule
 
#23
#23
eVOLintent said:
He left to pursue a career in music with his friends Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins, iirc.
Click to expand...

So that's what happened. I always knew he pursued music, but I thought he cut a record that goes something like, "When a problem comes along you must whip it, whip it, whip it good..."
 
#25
#25
DyronNix said:
TB Arena was invaded by old people who bought up all the lower level season tickets. Those old people are still living, still have those seats, show up late, leave early, and refuse to show enthusiasm during a game.
Click to expand...

Amen I am an old people and I can't wait til they die and students are placed by the floor. Of course by then we may be a losing team again.
 
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