Huskies coach fired amid probe
Kevin Ollie’s career as UConn men’s basketball coach is finished.
The school announced Saturday that it was “initiating disciplinary procedure to terminate” Ollie’s employment for “just cause,” which would mean he would not have to be paid the roughly $10 million remaining on his contract. The action could lead to possible negotiations for a buyout down the road, but Ollie is out at UConn after six seasons.
“It is unfortunate that this decision became necessary,” athletics director David Benedict said in a statement released by UConn. “As with all of our programs, we hold men’s basketball to the highest standards. We will begin a national search immediately to identify our next head coach.”
UConn finished 14-18, with a loss to SMU in the first round of the AAC Tournament. The Huskies were 16-17 in 2016-17.
The “just cause” would come from a pending NCAA inquiry into the program which, multiple sources have confirmed to The Courant, includes improper summer workouts involving people outside the program. The NCAA was already investigating the recruitment of multiple players, The Courant reported earlier this year. Due to the latest inquiry, Jalen Adams and Terry Larrier remained in the locker room while the Huskies warmed up for their AAC Tournament game against SMU in Orlando on Thursday, the team saying it was for extra work. But a source told The Courant it was because they possibly participated in the workouts — something the NCAA has strict restrictions on — and the school considered holding them out.
The Huskies lost the game, ending their season in the first round of the conference tournament, and Benedict waited less than 48 hours before making his move.
“The men’s basketball program has a proud history and a tradition of excellence,” UConn president Susan Herbst said in the same statement. “Our goal, above all, is to ensure we have a program that UConn Nation can be proud of, including our students, alumni, fans, and all our committed supporters.”
Ollie, 45, had a meteoric rise to the top of the coaching profession two seasons after replacing Hall-ofFamer Jim Calhoun, winning the NCAA Tournament in 2014. But his fall from status as one of the hottest young coaching commodities in the sport, perennially rumored to be considered for NBA jobs, to being fired Saturday was just as swift and stunning. UConn was 25-11, winning the American Athletic Conference tournament and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016, his record 97-44 through four seasons, but 30-35 since.
“It’s a sad day for UConn, me personally, and our basketball family,” Calhoun said Saturday. “I’ve always rooted for Kevin Ollie; I’ll continue rooting for Kevin Ollie. It’s a sad day for that. But things happen in coaching. Things don’t always turn out the way you want them to. And I’ll always root for UConn. For the past 33 years, it has been a very special place for me and I’ll help them any way I possibly can.”