Source: Ollie believes one more year was warranted

Because his team was hit hard by injuries and transfers over the past two seasons, Kevin Ollie believes he deserves at least one more shot as UConn’s head coach — presumably with a full roster — next season.

That’s the message Ollie has conveyed to at least one UConn player, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Ollie was fired on Saturday after six years as the Huskies’ head coach for “just cause.” The university believes alleged violations committed by the program that are part of an NCAA investigation justify Ollie’s dismissal, and that UConn is off the hook for the roughly $11 million Ollie is still owed on his contract.

Ollie has vowed to fight the decision and will argue his case in a hearing before athletic director David Benedict sometime over the next 10 days.

Benedict has also reached out to current players, according to the source, and in at least one case has expressed his belief in the player and hope that he remains with the program.

UConn was without McDonald’s All-America point guard Alterique Gilbert and talented swingman Terry Larrier for nearly all of the 201617 season due to injury. Gilbert missed nearly all of 2017-18 with recurring shoulder problems, as well.

The Huskies also lost three key players — shooter Vance Jackson and forwards Juwan Durham and Steve Enoch — to transfer following the ’16-17 season.

The program’s top recruit, Makai Ashton-Langford, also was granted a release from his national letter-ofintent and wound up at Providence.

UConn went 16-17 two seasons ago and 14-18 this past season.

Most UConn players are dispersed on spring break this week. Sophomore guard Christian Vital, the team’s leading rebounder and second leading scorer this season, seems to have indicated he’ll stay in Storrs. In a post on Twitter, Vital said: “I promise we won’t go like this! Even the best struggled I heard (sic). UConn on top soon!”

The post included a photo of Vital wearing his UConn uniform.

Two days before Ollie’s firing, following the Huskies’ season-ending loss to SMU, leading scorer Jalen Adams said he planned on returning next season. He did, however, note that he “planned on (Ollie) to be back. Hopefully, he’ll be back. I love playing for him.”

UConn appears as though it may lose at least one recruit: highly-touted point guard James Akinjo of Oakland, California. In a post on Twitter, Akinjo’s aunt wrote: “Unfortunately due to the recent coaching change, James Akinjo will be asking for the release (from) his LOI. We as a family would like to first thank Kevin Ollie and his entire coaching staff (and) all of the fans who are bleeding blue.”

Since Akinjo signed a national letter of intent, UConn must agree to release him from the commitment, or he has to sit out a year. Ashton-Langford was granted his release last spring after associate head coach Glen Miller was fired.

UConn’s two other signees — 6-7 sharpshooter Emmitt Matthews, Jr. and 6-10 forward Lukas Kisunas — are waiting it out to see who is named as Ollie’s replacement, according to their respective prep coaches.

Indeed, that seems to be the thought process for most of UConn’s current roster, as well. There has been some talk of a show of support for Ollie, according to a source, though it’s not clear how thorough a plan that is. More clarity on the situation should arise once the players return to campus this weekend.

One thing is sure: Ollie is not getting his job back. The only issue at hand is money, and whether or not Ollie gets all, some or none of the nearly $11 million left on his contract.

At some point between now and March 24, Ollie, UConn-AAAUP executive director Michael Bailey and union lawyer Brian Doyle will meet in a room — likely at UConn’s Depot Campus or within the school’s athletics offices — with Benedict and, presumably, other representation from the school.

Ollie will have a chance to address the various reasons why UConn has decided to fire him. If Benedict doesn’t agree with Ollie’s case, Ollie can appeal for a meeting with UConn president Susan Herbst. And if that doesn’t go to his liking, the case can go before an arbitrator.

That means this process could drag on for at least a couple of weeks, perhaps a month. In fact, UConn has already suggested a few dates for the initial hearing with Benedict that weren’t amenable to the union. That hearing likely won’t occur until late next week — and perhaps even after the March 24 deadline, if the two parties can’t find a mutual date and agree to an extension.

Since Ollie is, ostensibly, still UConn’s head coach — suspended with pay — that could possibly delay the school’s ability to name a new coach.

“If they hire someone, that person goes into the collective bargaining agreement. I don’t know what title he’d have,” Bailey said. “I don’t know if you could have two coaches at the same time. It would be awkward. We’ll see how they proceed with this.”

UConn has already said it is hiring a national search firm to find a new coach. URI’s Danny Hurley is said to be at the top of the list of candidates. The University of Pittsburgh is also highly interested in Hurley and has already fired its head coach. URI begins NCAA tournament play on Thursday (in Pittsburgh, ironically), so if Hurley is UConn’s target, they may need to move fast.

“They have to do what they need to do, I suppose,” Bailey said. “They’ve begun their search, that’s their prerogative. But right now, Kevin is suspended with pay. They’re not gonna hire somebody tomorrow or next week. Not until this is said and done.”

Benedict would not comment, but sources at UConn seem to believe the school could make a hire before Ollie’s situation is resolved.