OLLIE OUT
Administration cites ‘just cause’ as reason to end coach’s six-year tenure
UConn fired men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie on Saturday, with the team under NCAA investigation and the Huskies having completed their second straight losing season.
After six seasons, which included a national championship and backto-back national embarrassments, Kevin Ollie has been fired as UConn's men's basketball head coach "for just cause," according to an e-mail sent out by the school on Saturday morning.
"The University of Connecticut has initiated disciplinary procedures to terminate the employment of Head Men's Basketball Coach Kevin Ollie for just cause," the statement said. "The university will have no further comment on the matter until the completion of both the university's disciplinary process and the ongoing NCAA investigation."
Ollie led the Huskies to their fourth national title in just his second season at the helm in 2014, but the program has fallen off a cliff the past two seasons. UConn is a grisly 30-35 over that span, including numerous embarrassing blowout losses, and is also the subject on an NCAA investigation.
"It is unfortunate that this decision became necessary," UConn athletic director David Benedict said in a statement. "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."
In January, Hearst Media Connecticut reported that the NCAA had launched an inquiry into the UConn program centering on, at the very least, possible recruiting violations. On Friday, multiple sources told Hearst that Jalen Adams and Terry Larrier were involved in impermissi-
sible workouts over the summer, and that situation led to the two being late for pregame warmups for the Huskies' eventual loss to SMU in the first round of the AAC tournament.
On its own, that particular penalty doesn't appear to be a big deal — Adams and Larrier did play, after all. But it may be part of an accumulation of misdeeds by Ollie and the program that the school will look to in terminating his contract "for cause."
Benedict signed Ollie to an extension in 2016 season, and Ollie is still owed about $10.6 million through 2021 — unless UConn can terminate him for cause.
"I've always rooted for Kevin," said former Husky head coach Jim Calhoun. "That doesn't mean I've been as close as sometimes I'd like to be with Kevin. He won a national championship for us, was a terrific player for us and he's a great UConn guy."
The Huskies just wrapped up a 14-18 season, their second straight sub-.500 campaign.
Asked if he believed he'd be coaching the team again next year following Thursday's season-ending loss, Ollie simply — sternly — replied, "Yes."
Reached by phone on Saturday, Ollie declined comment. Multiple phone calls to Ollie's agent, Jeff Schwartz, have not been returned over the past few days.
Among those expected to be in the hunt for Ollie's old job are Rhode Island head coach Danny Hurley and former Indiana and Marquette head coach Tom Crean, among others. Sources have told Hearst Media Connecticut that Hurley would definitely be interested in the UConn job, though others insist he's looking for a Power 5 job that won't require a long rebuild.
And don't rule out the possibility — however unlikely — of Calhoun returning to the helm and working for a reasonable salary, which has already been discussed by the school's top officials.
With Ollie's firing, the program could be in for a mass exodus of players and recruits, similar to last season, when three players transferred and a top recruit de-committed after associate head coach Glen Miller was fired. According to multiple reports, James Akinjo of Oakland, California plans to back out of his commitment to UConn.
Emmitt Matthews, Jr., a 6-foot-7 shooter, and big man Lukas Kisunas appear to be willing to see whom UConn hires as new coach.
Ollie finished his tenure at UConn with a 127-79 overall record. Along with the NCAA title, he led the Huskies to the 2016 AAC tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA tourney.
"The men's basketball program has a proud history and a tradition of excellence, UConn president Susan Herbst said in a 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."