Realistically, who should replace Holly?

#151
#151
Why did Daedra leave UT may we can get her back.. I would like to see former LV's on staff like Shyra Ely, Loree Moore maybe even Hornbuckle Bobbitt or Auguste.. Or maybe even a SEC great like Delisha Milton-Jones she seems to love the game she has should be ready to retire it's amazing at 41 she can still average double figures... Or how about Lindsey Gotlieb, she's smart and she gets very good recruits and lets not forget she took Cal to it's first ever final four
 
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#152
#152
VOL720 said:
I totally agree! I think Lawson has a great basketball mind and the résumé to lead this program even though she has no coaching experience. Ivey is known as an excellent recruiter, she's young and I believe she would have this team playing at a much higher level. She would also bring that Princeton offense with her. I would think she'd hire Skylar Diggins as an assistant coach and I believe that would do wonders for our guards to have them both coaching them. Imagine the star power of DeShields and Diggins at Tennessee, that'll definitely draw recruits. Lawson and Ivey would be both safe and spectacular hires. Safe because administration wouldn't have to throw millions at them because they have no head coaching experience. Spectacular because they both possess great qualities to lead a program.
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Teresa Weatherspoon. One of Louisiana Tech's greatest players; voted by WNBA a Top 15 player all time. One year experience as head coach of a women's pro team. Hired by La Tech to "right the ship" of a proud, once-dominant program.

First La Tech coach to post two losing seasons.

Fired.

The record in any sport for great players becoming even good coaches is very poor. Let's stop fantasizing. Real problems require realistic answers.
 
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#156
#156
Vfl2407 said:
Double her Gamecock salary.
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I'm not that sold on Staley as an elite coach. Think she's a very good coach. The elite coaches now are of course Luigi, Muftet, Brenda, and Kim, possibly Wahl and Vanderveer. I would take the coach from Gonzaga or the Albany coach. And, Balcomb would be a big step up. I'd take Nikki even with all her troubles supposedly at LSU.
 
#157
#157
Holly would be lucky to be named in the top 100 of coaches. I'd love to see what she would do at someplace like NC State or La Tech.
 
#160
#160
I don't know who should replace Holly but I think there are about 200 coaches that could do a better job than she is doing.
 
#161
#161
BruisedOrange said:
Teresa Weatherspoon. One of Louisiana Tech's greatest players; voted by WNBA a Top 15 player all time. One year experience as head coach of a women's pro team. Hired by La Tech to "right the ship" of a proud, once-dominant program.

First La Tech coach to post two losing seasons.

Fired.

The record in any sport for great players becoming even good coaches is very poor. Let's stop fantasizing. Real problems require realistic answers.
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LA Tech did not have the talent that Tennessee possesses at that time when Witherspoon took over. She was trying to do more with less. This roster is stack with talent. Kara Lawson seems to at least know what she's talking about during interviews and commentary of games. Holly's pressers leave you confused and scratching your head and she basically say the same thing repeatedly. Lawson also has played for other great basketball minds. I was just throwing names out there that I thought could do a better job and would be safe hires because I doubt the AD would throw out that kind of money for any big name coaches.
 
#163
#163
Sandvol said:
Based on what? She's an assistant.
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Assistant who has the recommendation of Popovich and commands the attention of professional male players because of her demeanor & because "she knows what she's talking about & knows the game."

That's a pretty good recommendation. You honestly think that someone with her college, Olympic, and WNBA credentials...and endorsement from Popovich...would have trouble attracting top recruits? Her international experience & contacts would be a great aid to bringing international talent to Tennessee (remember Svetlana)?

Personally, I think the good PR would be a great boon to UT WBB and make a lot of recruits who have rejected TENN based upon current situation give the LV a fresh look.

Since it would take a huge amount of money to convince a proven major college coach to leave a successful program just for the challenge of fixing UT's woes, and smaller college/ mid-major coaches haven't yet proven themselves on the bigger stage, it doesn't seem a stretch to make a bold move in hiring someone of Hammon's caliber and celebrity. The key, IMO, would be her ability to assemble to an excellent staff.

Seriously, I believe that between UT's history, fan base, & facilities and Hammon's current status, it wouldn't be a huge risk to give her a shot. Texas went after & lured GG away from Duke, but that didn't pan out so well...and few would have second-guessed that decision.

Any coaching change made is a risk, although most would say that the risk is low with the current situation. Stagnation is safer, but there isn't much chance of great rewards, either.
 
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#166
#166
creekdipper said:
Assistant who has the recommendation of Popovich and commands the attention of professional male players because of her demeanor & because "she knows what she's talking about & knows the game."

That's a pretty good recommendation. You honestly think that someone with her college, Olympic, and WNBA credentials...and endorsement from Popovich...would have trouble attracting top recruits? Her international experience & contacts would be a great aid to bringing international talent to Tennessee (remember Svetlana)?

Personally, I think the good PR would be a great boon to UT WBB and make a lot of recruits who have rejected TENN based upon current situation give the LV a fresh look.

Since it would take a huge amount of money to convince a proven major college coach to leave a successful program just for the challenge of fixing UT's woes, and smaller college/ mid-major coaches haven't yet proven themselves on the bigger stage, it doesn't seem a stretch to make a bold move in hiring someone of Hammon's caliber and celebrity. The key, IMO, would be her ability to assemble to an excellent staff.

Seriously, I believe that between UT's history, fan base, & facilities and Hammon's current status, it wouldn't be a huge risk to give her a shot. Texas went after & lured GG away from Duke, but that didn't pan out so well...and few would have second-guessed that decision.

Any coaching change made is a risk, although most would say that the risk is low with the current situation. Stagnation is safer, but there isn't much chance of great rewards, either.
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I think GG would do a good job here. Much better than Holly. Hammond would be a little of a risk because she hasn't proved she can produce on her own just like Holly. I think they could get Brenda Frese for one million or GG for like $750,000. I'd take either in a heartbeat over Holly. Also, still like the Albany coach and the Gonzaga coach. Not having a great year so far this year but very impressed with her.
 
#167
#167
Just like Texas hiring Aston. Aston was an assistant at Baylor but proved herself at Charlotte and N. Texas. Tennessee needs to find somebody like that.
 
#169
#169
Sandvol said:
I think GG would do a good job here. Much better than Holly. Hammond would be a little of a risk because she hasn't proved she can produce on her own just like Holly. I think they could get Brenda Frese for one million or GG for like $750,000. I'd take either in a heartbeat over Holly. Also, still like the Albany coach and the Gonzaga coach. Not having a great year so far this year but very impressed with her.
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I doubt we can get Friese if for no other reason one of her twin boys is now in remission for leukemia. His treatments and physicians are all at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.
 
#170
#170
armchair said:
Hart probably cares little about women's basketball--and I'm positive he knows ZERO about it as he came here from alabama, whose women's program has never been good. He's not stupid, however, and he will come to learn, if he hasn't already, that we have serious coaching issues. I mean, scoring 43 points at home against an unranked team: that alone ought to tell him something along with an almost constant string of ugly performances for years. This isn't just a women's basketball program; it was THE program for a long time and he needs to understand that.
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As far as UT is concerned it's been a "football" school first and basketball 2nd. However, the women's team has far surpassed the men's teams more often than not. Back when Mears was coach, it was a very good program, maybe not the best but better than average. Under Bruce Pearl, the team was at least a top 20 or better and maybe at least a top 10 at one point. I think we need someone with more enthusiasm than Holly at the helm of the Lady Vols. This is one of the top 10 teams in women's basketball in the country!:good!::salute: We need an AD that will take charge and I think that needs to be Phil Fulmer! :thumbsup:
He could do more for the program than Hart could. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!:good!::clapping::yes:
 
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#174
#174
xanamanax said:
She's going to be an NBA head coach, not WNBA. You seriously think she's putting in all that effort in the NBA to take a college job?
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Are there any women NBA head coaches? I wasn't the one who said she was going to be an NCAA coach.
 
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#175
#175
Sandvol said:
Are there any women NBA head coaches? I wasn't the one who said she was going to be an NCAA coach.
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I'm afraid that it's unlikely that any frachise will take a chance on a unproven coach of either gender...but especially not be willing to engage in what many would regard as a social experiment (at best) or a publicity stunt (at worst). Well, maybe not "worst"...many, whether out of bias or just nay-saying, would call it a crazy move. Not sure anyone is desperate enough to do that right now.

But, even though the SI statement that Hammon could have have pretty much any WNBA or major college job she wanted (outside of established, successful coaches whose base is satisfied) might be hyperbole, I'd think that there are many who would definitely give her a shot.

And if her desire is not all wrapped up in making history as first female NBA coach...a long shot...she might jump at the chance to step into an NCAA position. Even though she hasn't paid her college dues as others have (as you pointed out about Aston), she's in a bit of a unique situation.

All that said, the more likely approach would be to go after some of the suggestions you mentioned such as the coaches from Gonzaga or Albany (or, as someone else mentioned, perhaps Princeton). You just never know what will happen: Jollie/Harper was really successful at WC before moving up & getting mediocre results at NC State (although recruiting to TENN would be a whole lot easier than for NC State).

Maybe CHW can turn things around, although it seems unlikely given the reports of lack of team chemistry...I don't see it as very likely that she will get canned unless the freefall continues and the proverbial bottom drops out entirely. If that happens (worst case scenario) or wholesale transfers start to happen, it's hard to see how things could improve without cleaning house of either the players (which would leave UT without a team unless they just sign players to fill the roster given the lack of 2016 signees) or the coaching staff. Hard to see how the situation could get better given the fact that next year's roster (barring transfers) will look pretty much like this year's. Hard to fix big egos & personality conflicts if the head hasn't been able to do it yet; that might require bringing in a new face who won't put up with diva behavior (or whatever the problem is).

Might have to bring out the trash cans at the ends of the court...that could solve some clashes (one way or the other).

The idea that the staff needs to recruit system players who are coachable rather than "talent" seems appropriate (it would help if the "system" is a modern, effective one that appeals to both players & fans).
 
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