Westbrook and Jennifer Sullivan

[ksl415]

Here’s what I know about the academic situation. And I’ve tried to avoid it because another thread got into a specific player’s grades and I don’t think that’s right to do.

The Thornton Center fired the academic counselor over women’s basketball because of the tire fire that was their academic performance this year. The coaching staff was unaware of the depth of the problem until near the end of the fall semester. I understand that many people here will find that unbelievable, but coaches are two steps removed from their players’ academics per University policy to prevent tampering. Professors, tutors and advisors report in to the academic counselor over each sport and the academic counselor prepares a report for the head coach at the midterm and the end of each semester. The report given to the coaching staff at the midterm of fall semester was misleading at best. When the grades came in at the end of fall semester, there were punishments handed down and that didn’t sit well with some of the players that needed it the most.

That’s really all I can say without breaking a confidence and getting into the situations of specific players. Ultimately, all of those things rest at the feet of the coaching staff, and I believe the overall lack of discipline and responsibility directly fueled the fall off. But the person the University found responsible was let go before the coaching staff was.

So too much partying? Not taking it seriously. Just like the way some of them played in games. Nonexistent.

 

[ksl415]

Good grief! Wish the young lady well and get over yourself with the snide comments. Hopefully, it will be best for all involved, but show some class.

Definitely shows the person they are. Sad, they probably are only doing all this behind that keyboard.

 

[VA_VOLFAN]

Here’s what I know about the academic situation. And I’ve tried to avoid it because another thread got into a specific player’s grades and I don’t think that’s right to do.

The Thornton Center fired the academic counselor over women’s basketball because of the tire fire that was their academic performance this year. The coaching staff was unaware of the depth of the problem until near the end of the fall semester. I understand that many people here will find that unbelievable, but coaches are two steps removed from their players’ academics per University policy to prevent tampering. Professors, tutors and advisors report in to the academic counselor over each sport and the academic counselor prepares a report for the head coach at the midterm and the end of each semester. The report given to the coaching staff at the midterm of fall semester was misleading at best. When the grades came in at the end of fall semester, there were punishments handed down and that didn’t sit well with some of the players that needed it the most.

That’s really all I can say without breaking a confidence and getting into the situations of specific players. Ultimately, all of those things rest at the feet of the coaching staff, and I believe the overall lack of discipline and responsibility directly fueled the fall off. But the person the University found responsible was let go before the coaching staff was.

Thank you for the info! I coach in high school and i am sure it’s nothing like college! I agree that a coach and a program has to set the expectations and when those expectations aren’t met there need to be consequences! Sounds like some people put athlete before student. Some kids handle consequences better than others but those that do handle it and make a change for the better you want to keep!

It also helps when their is LEADERSHIP coming from the athletes themselves because it means more coming from your peers who depend on you sometimes then it does the parent or coach.

 

[aretha57]

Here’s what I know about the academic situation. And I’ve tried to avoid it because another thread got into a specific player’s grades and I don’t think that’s right to do.

The Thornton Center fired the academic counselor over women’s basketball because of the tire fire that was their academic performance this year. The coaching staff was unaware of the depth of the problem until near the end of the fall semester. I understand that many people here will find that unbelievable, but coaches are two steps removed from their players’ academics per University policy to prevent tampering. Professors, tutors and advisors report in to the academic counselor over each sport and the academic counselor prepares a report for the head coach at the midterm and the end of each semester. The report given to the coaching staff at the midterm of fall semester was misleading at best. When the grades came in at the end of fall semester, there were punishments handed down and that didn’t sit well with some of the players that needed it the most.

That’s really all I can say without breaking a confidence and getting into the situations of specific players. Ultimately, all of those things rest at the feet of the coaching staff, and I believe the overall lack of discipline and responsibility directly fueled the fall off. But the person the University found responsible was let go before the coaching staff was.[/QUOTE

 

[lvocd]

Thanks for the update, DeerPark. Considering that basketball season was marked by one humiliating, negative-record-setting-loss after another, and that so many people unfairly blamed this particular group of young women for the complete collapse of the Lady Vols program, it is upsetting, but not surprising, to find out that some of the kids struggled to focus in the classroom.

I cam imagine that all the negativity surrounding the program took a toll on everyone, and in ways we’ll never fully know.

And yes, this falls at the feet of all of the adults who were beng paid to make sure this would never happen. They’ve all been let go, so UT definitely is showing its serious about getting back on track.

I sure hope the recovery time is short.

 

[LA Vol]

They can fix the academics. There were also issues with players being late and skipping classes, which is supposed to be reported immediately and addressed. While this is a breakdown in a system that has been in place for a long time, the players know the rules and know that being a LV holds them to a higher standard.

It all goes back to a lack of discipline and boundaries that had become problematic on and off the court. Kellie will run a much tighter ship. While most of the players probably will appreciate this, it will require an adjustment for others. Getting everything back on track quickly should ease some of the tension on the team.

 

[sccshortstop]

They can fix the academics. There were also issues with players being late and skipping classes, which is supposed to be reported immediately and addressed. While this is a breakdown in a system that has been in place for a long time, the players know the rules and know that being a LV holds them to a higher standard.

It all goes back to a lack of discipline and boundaries that had become problematic on and off the court. Kellie will run a much tighter ship. While most of the players probably will appreciate this, it will require an adjustment for others. Getting everything back on track quickly should ease some of the tension on the team.

I hope and speculate that EW may have been a problem with academics as well since she had to sit a game that someone said was for missing a class. The others and who they may be I don't know now has the opportunity to hit the road or hit the books. Davis is smart so she announced she is staying so now if the others stay they must have chosen to hit the books!!! JMHO as always!

 

[lvocd]

They can fix the academics. There were also issues with players being late and skipping classes, which is supposed to be reported immediately and addressed. While this is a breakdown in a system that has been in place for a long time, the players know the rules and know that being a LV holds them to a higher standard.

It all goes back to a lack of discipline and boundaries that had become problematic on and off the court. Kellie will run a much tighter ship. While most of the players probably will appreciate this, it will require an adjustment for others. Getting everything back on track quickly should ease some of the tension on the team.

Agreed.

I have to wonder if Holly had decided early on to be a little more lenient, or if the academic team decided that THEY could play a lot looser with the system BECAUSE they knew Holly wasn’t the hard-azz that Pat was. I have no doubt that it’s extra work for professors to have to pay special attention to whether or not certain “special” students are on time for class and are doing well. This is not something that most college professors would feel should be a part of their job, so maybe they relaxed a bit, too?

Bottom line is that Holly’s easygoing personality was always going to be an issue. She’d spent her entire career being the soothing salve that followed the REAL disciplinarian’s tough love, and so making a complete reversal in tone and manner to become someone young people would hesitate to test like that was just never feasible.

 

[VolBall09]

Agreed.

I have to wonder if Holly had decided early on to be a little more lenient, or if the academic team decided that THEY could play a lot looser with the system BECAUSE they knew Holly wasn’t the hard-azz that Pat was. I have no doubt that it’s extra work for professors to have to pay special attention to whether or not certain “special” students are on time for class and are doing well. This is not something that most college professors would feel should be a part of their job, so maybe they relaxed a bit, too?

Bottom line is that Holly’s easygoing personality was always going to be an issue. She’d spent her entire career being the soothing salve that followed the REAL disciplinarian’s tough love, and so making a complete reversal in tone and manner to become someone young people would hesitate to test like that was just never feasible.

I wouldn't think Holly would have decided that, more so it was just her personality. She seemed pretty laid back and not as strict about many things, no surprise the players extended that to academics as well. They displayed a lack of discipline on and off the court under Holly because they clearly felt they could get away with those things. Glad we have a new sheriff in town.

 

[LA Vol]

Absolutely, Holly never was a disciplinarian. It's just not her temperament. She's best at giving hugs and smoothing ruffled feathers and letting someone else be the enforcer. Perhaps the right staff and division of responsibilities could have compensated for that, but... water under the bridge.

Athletics and academics always have been cooperative at UT, and professors know at the start of the semester when they have student-athletes in their classes. It is an added responsibility, but it has worked out for a long time. Pat had stricter policies than other coaches and enforced them universally. Her players knew she meant business and seldom challenged her. I think the older players helped keep younger players accountable for Holly's first years. That probably ended with Nared, who was the last LV to have played with Pat's players. She graduated and the difference was noticeable, while problems escalated.

 

[DeerPark12]

Agreed.

I have to wonder if Holly had decided early on to be a little more lenient, or if the academic team decided that THEY could play a lot looser with the system BECAUSE they knew Holly wasn’t the hard-azz that Pat was. I have no doubt that it’s extra work for professors to have to pay special attention to whether or not certain “special” students are on time for class and are doing well. This is not something that most college professors would feel should be a part of their job, so maybe they relaxed a bit, too?

Bottom line is that Holly’s easygoing personality was always going to be an issue. She’d spent her entire career being the soothing salve that followed the REAL disciplinarian’s tough love, and so making a complete reversal in tone and manner to become someone young people would hesitate to test like that was just never feasible.

Just to be clear, anything having to do with classroom discipline, attendance, etc is coordinated by the academic person, who is not a part of the coaching staff.

Did the lack of attention to detail by the coaches contribute to the boldness of the players to skip, be late, have poor habits? Sure.

But as far as they knew, everything was fine until the grades came in after fall semester. There was then a meeting with the coaching staff, administrators, and the Thornton Center after that came in because there had been zero indication given to the staff by academics that there was a problem. Hence, why that person was let go before the season ended by the administration.

 

[cabbie191]

Absolutely, Holly never was a disciplinarian. It's just not her temperament. She's best at giving hugs and smoothing ruffled feathers and letting someone else be the enforcer. Perhaps the right staff and division of responsibilities could have compensated for that, but... water under the bridge.

This makes sense to me, and ultimately is the sadness that characterizes Holly’s tenure. IF IT ISN’T in your nature to be a disciplinarian as head coach, then isn’t it your responsibility to make sure someone on your staff is? IMO, a leadership team should always have a combination of personality types to counter balance and reinforce each other.

That being said, though, it seems like it would be unusual to have a subordinate be stricter than the head coach.