Kathy Olivier Out at UCLA

[CaliforniaBasketball]

Sad!

I am a supporter of her and loved the way she coached. The results havent been there in the past but she knows what she is doing.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-uclawomen12mar12,1,937093.story

[BrooklynSaints]

Sad!

I am a supporter of her and loved the way she coached. The results havent been there in the past but she knows what she is doing.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-uclawomen12mar12,1,937093.story

The link does not work. I'm surprised they let Oliver go. She has the best record against Stanford in the PAC 10 over the past 3 years recording 3 wins. She had a young team this year so the future looked bright for UCLA.

[CaliforniaBasketball]

The link does not work. I'm surprised they let Oliver go. She has the best record against Stanford in the PAC 10 over the past 3 years recording 3 wins. She had a young team this year so the future looked bright for UCLA.

I wonder what kind of coach will replace her. This is a "big ticket" oppurtunity. Just as big imo as Texas last year and look who they got. Gail G from Duke.

Here's another link
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2008/03/11/ap/sports/college/d8vbi3ho0.txt

[sjducky]

Here's the official UCLA release:

http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/031108aab.html

Kathy Olivier Resigns As UCLA Head Women's Basketball Coach

Olivier will continue to work for the Athletic Department on special projects.

Click here to find out more!

March 11, 2008

Los Angeles, Calif. - UCLA Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator Petrina Long announced today that Kathy Olivier has resigned from her position of head women's basketball coach, effective today. Olivier will continue to work for the Athletic Department on special projects yet to be determined.

[CaliforniaBasketball]

How about Anne Donovan or Pokey Chapman

[ClayKallam]

This is perhaps the best news for the Pac-10 and women's basketball in general in many years.

UCLA should be a national power, and never was, nor would be, with Olivier in charge. She had two top five WNBA picks on her roster at the same time (Noelle Quinn and Lisa Willis) plus Nikki Blue, who's still in the league -- and lost 12 games.

Her departure is long overdue (a nice person, a decent recruiter, a poor coach) and if she is replaced with someone capable, it will add another strong team on the West Coast.

Anne Donovan? An awful coach, as her record at Seattle (with the best player in the world, plus Sue Bird, plus loads of talent) and with USA Basketball (third in the world championships, including a quote that she hadn't installed a press) prove. She is also a poor judge of talent, as a cursory look at her drafts will show.

Pokey Chatman? Are you serious? Here's a woman who has never denied, nor apologized about, allegations that she had affairs with her players. I would have expected one or the other, but all she did was sue LSU and threaten to tell the media bad stories about her former colleagues.

[intelligenthoodlum]

CK, the IH has a SERIOUS case of the heebie-jeebies about this upcoming hire. The IH has surveyed the current D-1 ranks of the 340, or so programs' worth of head coaches, associate head coaches, and 1st assistants, and there just aren't that many qualified--in the IH's eyes--candidates (five to ten of them, MAYBE?). And please don't mention the re-treads--WNBA coaches, TV announcers, pundits, and scouts, who are EX-college head coaches. They're the leaders of this current state of affairs, to begin with...
CK, the IH is scared that these UCLA people are gonna hire one of these re-treads (why do you think they carry the "ex" tag?); or hire one of these college coaches whose names come up EVERY TIME a major-D-1 job opens up (there's usually a reason they never get the job...); or one of these random college assistants who really ain't true head coach material, but they interview well, and they came from these NAME college programs where they didn't really do anything but babysit players--and come up with maybe 1-2 decent scouts a season...

The IH rarely gets twisted up in his message board duties, CK; but for some reason, the IH has clear feelings of doom and gloom with this UCLA business...

[BballFanaticInMS]

I agree with Clay! Olivier has been a poor coach at UCLA and should have won many more games than she has at UCLA. They have had some very talented teams and great recruits in her years at UCLA and done basically nothing with them! I think they did make the elite eight one year when Maylana Martin and a host of other talented players, but that team still should have been much better than they were. UCLA has also lost out on a host of other great recruits that would have gone to UCLA had a good coach been there. Most of us have heard the stories that had a good coach been at UCLA then Diana Taurasi and many others great players would have gone there!

[letsski]

I think a great pick would be Amy Tucker from Stanford. UCLA would do well to emulate Stanford's program and Tucker has done as much if not more in terms of coaching and recruiting as Tara.

She has been content to remain as an assistant for many reasons, one of which is that she is paid better than many head coaches.

[scoutnwhoops]

I was chatting with a hs coach here in my neck of the woods and LaVonda Wagner's name came up. She's in a place that's hard to recruit and has a reputation of getting the most out of her players. This is probably the premier job in the Pac-10 for the former ACC assistants that tend to be headed west. I wish UCLA and KO the best going forward.

I'm hearing a lot of grumbling about player movement as well throughout the conference. Hopefully it is rumor but this is a crazy game!

[NWhoopball]

Lavonda Wagner - Not sure what she has ever done to get this job, She loses players faster than she gets them. She is an average recruiter, average coach at best, very dynamic person i will say, says the right things, players don't like her...in the end 8th or 9th in pac 10?

I think they need someone that knows the west coast who can recruit. A coach the kids believe in. I like Russ Davis of Vanguard Univ and Cal Swish Program. 1st class guy, great coach, Obviously going to be one of the best recruiters in the Pac 10. UCLA will hire a woman and stay medicore, I am waiting for the first law suit from a coach that got passed over because he was a man. It is coming!!! And some univ admin is going to look really bad, it is totally illegal what they are doing with gender bias on head coaches in women's basketball.

[ClayKallam]

How about Jeff Walz from Louisville?

That said, I agree with IH. If Olivier actually resigned, then the UCLA administration can continue its benign neglect of women's basketball and hire on the cheap. But if they forced Olivier out, as they should have long ago, then maybe they are ready to pay what they need to pay to get a quality coach. Then again, who is that quality coach?

[BrooklynSaints]

Lavonda Wagner - Not sure what she has ever done to get this job, She loses players faster than she gets them. She is an average recruiter, average coach at best, very dynamic person i will say, says the right things, players don't like her...in the end 8th or 9th in pac 10?

I think they need someone that knows the west coast who can recruit. A coach the kids believe in. I like Russ Davis of Vanguard Univ and Cal Swish Program. 1st class guy, great coach, Obviously going to be one of the best recruiters in the Pac 10. UCLA will hire a woman and stay medicore, I am waiting for the first law suit from a coach that got passed over because he was a man. It is coming!!! And some univ admin is going to look really bad, it is totally illegal what they are doing with gender bias on head coaches in women's basketball.

So how many women head coaches are there in mens college basketball or the NBA? Would you consider that illegal also?

[NWhoopball]

How many qualified women are there that want to coach nba and mens college basketball? I would guess very few. It is no secret that that college administration is going out of their way to hire women as head coaches, 9 out 10 pac 10 coaches are women.

Go ask Geno Auriemma how he feels about what is going on in hiring coaches in women's basketball? I have no problem in hiring women, but when 80 percent or 90 percent in the pac 10 of coaches are women. Whats next? You can not be white or straight?

My point is when you start your search and say we prefer to hire a women head coach. Well that is where the line is crossed, right at the start.

[BrooklynSaints]

How many qualified women are there that want to coach nba and mens college basketball? I would guess very few. It is no secret that that college administration is going out of their way to hire women as head coaches, 9 out 10 pac 10 coaches are women.

Go ask Geno Auriemma how he feels about what is going on in hiring coaches in women's basketball? I have no problem in hiring women, but when 80 percent or 90 percent in the pac 10 of coaches are women. Whats next? You can not be white or straight?

My point is when you start your search and say we prefer to hire a women head coach. Well that is where the line is crossed, right at the start.

I think there are plenty of women who are qualified and if given the offer of the position and the higher salary they would be up to the challenge.

Starting the search saying I prefer a women head coach is fine with me. Especially since that is what the administration has been doing for years with men sports. How come men are allowed to cross the line at the start all the time?

We have a women that coaches Boys High school in Brooklyn. The team each year is in the top 10 in NYC.

Do you really think that college women head coaches who are in the top 10 nationally would not be successful coaching men?

[Sam]

So, back to the question about Olivier's replacement and whether or not UCLA is serious about getting the best person for the job. Assuming that they are serious, who should they go after? The IHoodie says the field can be narrowed to 5 or 10, but he doesn't identify them. Who would they be? Just throwing out some names here, but if you look at D1 head coaches with a high winning percentage and 7 to 15 years experience, how about these folks:

Kim Mulkey
Lisa Stone
Mary Taylor Cowles
Dawn Staley

[lboogie]

Doreena Campbell--the only reason I have Fox Sports Pacific is to watch her...come back to this time zone pleeeeeze:o

[ClayKallam]

Of that list, Dawn Staley is the most interesting ... she could make UCLA a perennial contender for the Final Four, something she can never do at Temple.

[Sam]

I'm guessing that Mulkey was not "interesting" because she might be unattainable, but what's not to like about Cowles? Her winning percentage is comparable to Staley's, if not better, and Western Kentucky is not exactly a basketball mecca either.

Are there some other "hot" names out there? I would think that a school with an elite name like UCLA would be able to attract a proven commodity if they (UCLA) are committed to success - they shouldn't need to dip into D3 or high school ranks to take a chance on someone who hasn't proven themselves in the big leagues yet.

[NWhoopball]

Russ Davis would win big at ucla, I guess hiring a women is more important...

Also if you think there are a bunch of women that have enough experience to be a head coach in the nba you are out to lunch. There are very few women that have any experience coaching the nba athlete , nba offenses , nba defenses, nba egos.
There are women coaching men at every other level.

why are is it ok for men to coach women and not women to coach men. Either is fine as long as the best coach is hired. The facts are there are more men coaches than women at all levels, I am not saying they are better or worse just there are more men who coach. And to say your number one proity is hire a women is wrong.

I noticed Clay doesn't want to touch this topic , who an blame him, it is not a politically correct thing to talk about. My only point is that it is obviously happening and I feel it is its a bad deal for college sports, Hire the best person.

[ClayKallam]

Actually, I have criticized the Pac-10 in the past because there were no male coaches at all. USC then hired Mark Trakh, but I think the key is to hire the best person, no matter the gender -- and since women aren't considered for men's jobs, there's a pretty big pool of female talent available.

As for Russ Davis, he might do well, but BCS basketball is all about recruiting, and it's a big jump from a mid-major to a BCS school, much less from D2 or D3.

The best bet for UCLA is an established coach like Dawn Staley, proven at the D1 level, rather than rolling the dice on someone who hasn't shown they can succeed as a D1 head coach.

Still, it will be risky no matter who -- unless it's Staley or a coach who's already winning at a BCS school.

[intelligenthoodlum]

1. Does UCLA want a coach who will get the program to the NCAA Tournament?
- very easy to do

2. Does UCLA want a coach who can win the Pac-10?
- relatively easy to do

3. Does UCLA want a coach who can consistently get to the Sweet Sixteen?
- not that hard to do

4. Does UCLA want a coach who can consistently get to the Elite Eight, and beyond?
- kind of a stretch

5. Does UCLA want a coach who can consistently get to the Final Four, and compete for a National Championship?
- tough, but do-able

6. Does UCLA want to give up THE CASH?
- actually, UCLA doesn't necessarily have to give up THAT kind of cash--if they are willing to go outside the box, for a fresh, forward-thinking, passionate GRINDER

7. Basically, you're talking about black girls, who can play, from L.A., Frisco, San Diego, Vegas, Sacramento, and Seattle; white girls, who can play, from anywhere out West (yes, sports fans, the IH said it!); and then, a smattering of whoever can play, from wherever--with particular attention to Texas and the Midwest. Then, for a "national program", you're talking about eventually bringing in a few East Coast blazers.

8. Having said #7, then it's the TYPE of head coach, AND HIS/HER STYLE, that will determine what TYPES AND STYLES of players will be drafted.

9. Having said #8, some of the names listed by the diligent message board jockeys are more-than-capable BCS-level head coaches, but would they be what the Bruinettes NEED, as opposed to what they WANT?

10. There's a reason why those who matter--at all levels--don't take the Pac-10 seriously when Elite Eight/Final Four discussions come up (do any of you sports fans seriously think that Stanford would beat Rutgers in a Tournament match-up?).

11. A REAL coach at UCLA would make #10 moot, in four draft classes. A retread, or more of the same, for UCLA, keeps the Pac-10 the same.

12. Who is the SWA at UCLA? Is this person relevant? Who are the key alumni and boosters? Do they have a clue? Pop-culture trend-setting actor Jack Nicholson is now spotted chilling at UCLA men's basketball games. Is there an equivalent who will want to chill at UCLA women's basketball games?

(13. The West Coast schools are notorious for bringing in random Russians, third-level Australians, and second-level Canadians to run ball, by the way. WHEN WILL THIS EVER STOP?)

14. The most significant hire in college women's basketball, since The Last Don was in the running for the UConn job...

15. ..., because: Tara's won a couple, and is still hittin' 'n holdin', but the IH doesn't know if she's going to be able to get another one; it may be about that time for Joan and Bev to wait tables in the Relax Room; it'll be a little difficult for June to roll her new thing, for real; Charli's mad cool, but the hockey-line-substitution thing only gets you to a certain point, when you see one of them East Coast head-crackers; Joanne is cool, too, but Cal-Berkeley might be nothing more than an around-the-way Stanford; Trakh might never get untracked; and Tia and Lavonda haven't been around long enought to show anything beyond glorified-Duke-assistant-with-the-hookup yet.
The UCLA hire will be the West Coast's last chance, for awhile...

[BrooklynSaints]

Russ Davis would win big at ucla, I guess hiring a women is more important...

Also if you think there are a bunch of women that have enough experience to be a head coach in the nba you are out to lunch. There are very few women that have any experience coaching the nba athlete , nba offenses , nba defenses, nba egos.
There are women coaching men at every other level.

why are is it ok for men to coach women and not women to coach men. Either is fine as long as the best coach is hired. The facts are there are more men coaches than women at all levels, I am not saying they are better or worse just there are more men who coach. And to say your number one proity is hire a women is wrong.

I noticed Clay doesn't want to touch this topic , who an blame him, it is not a politically correct thing to talk about. My only point is that it is obviously happening and I feel it is its a bad deal for college sports, Hire the best person.

I would say the majority of coaches hired in the NBA are former players who have limited experience coaching at any level.

Your argument about knowledge of NBA offenses and defenses are a bad one. There are several college men coaches who are hired to coach in the NBA with little or no NBA experience.
Example: Billy Donovan of Florida.

In theory your premise to hire the best individual for a position is a good one. The reality however states that if one ignores diversity it will have severe consequences to the overall good of the nation.

[Bobbk]

Why would UCLA want anyone from Frisco, Texas.

[scoutnwhoops]

This is a huge hire as UCLA is one of the few west coast schools that can recruit nationally and KO never had a problem recruiting. Even her young pups this season were impressive.

Since everyone has an opinion on what they need/want why don't we start a list of candidates besides Dawn Staley. I would submit Kelly Graves at Gonzaga. They in the past few years they beat UCLA twice (in two meetings) with decidedly less talent. Of course if the payday isn't there would he leave UCLA? Another name that was brought to my attention was Sharon Versyp at Purdue who took a 3rd place team to a conference tournament title even with the recruiting fallout from the Curry departure. She's at her alma mater and the pay isn't going to be any better so you can probably scratch her off the list. Will Sue Semrau at Florida State be mentioned again?

Who I ask who? Who are the talented coaches hiding, waiting for a chance to recruit on a national level?

[Hoopsking]

How about Kareem Abdul Jabbar? He has expressed interesting in coaching. I think he'd be a great hire. Former UCLA mens coach Steve Lavin would also be a great hire.

[BrooklynSaints]

My pick is Lisa Leslie. Just had a baby. Should be ready to retire from play. She is from LA. Should have plenty of contacts. Should be a big recruiter.

[Hoopsking]

Well how about Cheryl Miller. She has coaching experience. Saints, from what I was told, Lisa Leslie wants to spend time at home with her family. I don't think she would have the time right now to go out recruiting, etc.

Cheryl Miller would be another choice of mine.

[intelligenthoodlum]

The IH really wants to know if all of you sports fans are SERIOUS, with your suggestions; or are you all just fooling around?

[BrooklynSaints]

1. Does UCLA want a coach who will get the program to the NCAA Tournament?
- very easy to do

2. Does UCLA want a coach who can win the Pac-10?
- relatively easy to do

3. Does UCLA want a coach who can consistently get to the Sweet Sixteen?
- not that hard to do

4. Does UCLA want a coach who can consistently get to the Elite Eight, and beyond?
- kind of a stretch

5. Does UCLA want a coach who can consistently get to the Final Four, and compete for a National Championship?
- tough, but do-able

6. Does UCLA want to give up THE CASH?
- actually, UCLA doesn't necessarily have to give up THAT kind of cash--if they are willing to go outside the box, for a fresh, forward-thinking, passionate GRINDER

7. Basically, you're talking about black girls, who can play, from L.A., Frisco, San Diego, Vegas, Sacramento, and Seattle; white girls, who can play, from anywhere out West (yes, sports fans, the IH said it!); and then, a smattering of whoever can play, from wherever--with particular attention to Texas and the Midwest. Then, for a "national program", you're talking about eventually bringing in a few East Coast blazers.

8. Having said #7, then it's the TYPE of head coach, AND HIS/HER STYLE, that will determine what TYPES AND STYLES of players will be drafted.

9. Having said #8, some of the names listed by the diligent message board jockeys are more-than-capable BCS-level head coaches, but would they be what the Bruinettes NEED, as opposed to what they WANT?

10. There's a reason why those who matter--at all levels--don't take the Pac-10 seriously when Elite Eight/Final Four discussions come up (do any of you sports fans seriously think that Stanford would beat Rutgers in a Tournament match-up?).

11. A REAL coach at UCLA would make #10 moot, in four draft classes. A retread, or more of the same, for UCLA, keeps the Pac-10 the same.

12. Who is the SWA at UCLA? Is this person relevant? Who are the key alumni and boosters? Do they have a clue? Pop-culture trend-setting actor Jack Nicholson is now spotted chilling at UCLA men's basketball games. Is there an equivalent who will want to chill at UCLA women's basketball games?

(13. The West Coast schools are notorious for bringing in random Russians, third-level Australians, and second-level Canadians to run ball, by the way. WHEN WILL THIS EVER STOP?)

14. The most significant hire in college women's basketball, since The Last Don was in the running for the UConn job...

15. ..., because: Tara's won a couple, and is still hittin' 'n holdin', but the IH doesn't know if she's going to be able to get another one; it may be about that time for Joan and Bev to wait tables in the Relax Room; it'll be a little difficult for June to roll her new thing, for real; Charli's mad cool, but the hockey-line-substitution thing only gets you to a certain point, when you see one of them East Coast head-crackers; Joanne is cool, too, but Cal-Berkeley might be nothing more than an around-the-way Stanford; Trakh might never get untracked; and Tia and Lavonda haven't been around long enought to show anything beyond glorified-Duke-assistant-with-the-hookup yet.
The UCLA hire will be the West Coast's last chance, for awhile...

You've said a lot. I'll only focus on a few statements.

#1- what difference does it make what color the girls are ?

#2 - Stanford already beat Rutgers this season. I think Stanford is in better shape than Rutgers at this point in the season. Rutgers has 2 injuries that has greatly limited the lineup. I don't see Rutgers going far this year. Stanford has improved greatly since earlier in the season. They are passing the ball and not solely relying on size and Wiggins to score points. In a rematch I pick Stanford by 8 points.

#3 -Charli changed her sub style this year. May have hurt because Az St was a lot easier to beat this year. I suggest going back to the hockey style of play.

[CaliforniaBasketball]

How about Bo Overton. He just re-signed from the Head Coaching position of the CHicago Sky. He led them to a 13-21 season after a 5 win season and was the gm. He brought in Armintie Price, Dominique Canty, Chasity Melvin, ...

He did not say why he has re-signed. He was the assistant under Sheri Cole at OU. Maybe he wants to go back to coaching college?

Just last week he was scouting Sylvia Fowles and Candace Parker at the SEC tournament.

[intelligenthoodlum]

1. Exactly--if it's you and the IH talking. But it means a lot to most of these coaches and AD's...

2. Exactly. But Stanford WILL NOT beat Rutgers if they match-up in the NCAA's. If another East Coast team doesn't beat Stanford first...

3. It probably won't matter WHAT Charli goes to. Yet another Sweet-Sixteen-ish exit...

[BrooklynSaints]

1. Exactly--if it's you and the IH talking. But it means a lot to most of these coaches and AD's...

2. Exactly. But Stanford WILL NOT beat Rutgers if they match-up in the NCAA's. If another East Coast team doesn't beat Stanford first...

3. It probably won't matter WHAT Charli goes to. Yet another Sweet-Sixteen-ish exit...

Stanford is going to surprise you this year. Yes there are teams that can beat Stanford but not Rutgers this year. Teams I would worry about are Maryland, LSU and UCONN.

[ClayKallam]

Kareem? Are you serious? He's never coached women. Or anyone.

Lisa Leslie? She's never coached anywhere.

Cheryl Miller? She quit on Phoenix, and never looked back. And, if I'm not mistaken, she went to some other school in LA.

Bo Overton? A guy who gets kicked out for alleged sexual harassment (and I use the word 'alleged' just to save Hoopgurlz)?

As for Stanford in postseason, quickness in the backcourt is a major issue. The Cardinal have had some great moments this year, and they're playing very well right now, but it's hard for me to see them beating a team like Texas A&M, or Rutgers, at this point in the season.

That said, I think it's more possible this year than in years past ...

[dfineguy]

I do see a few assistants from major programs who might fit the bill. Jamelle Elliott and Nikki Caldwell would be the most obvious from my point of view. I seem to recall a school in New England that took a chance on one of Debbie Ryan's assistants at Virginia and that hasn't turned out that badly.

[BrooklynSaints]

Kareem? Are you serious? He's never coached women. Or anyone.

Lisa Leslie? She's never coached anywhere.

Cheryl Miller? She quit on Phoenix, and never looked back. And, if I'm not mistaken, she went to some other school in LA.

Bo Overton? A guy who gets kicked out for alleged sexual harassment (and I use the word 'alleged' just to save Hoopgurlz)?

As for Stanford in postseason, quickness in the backcourt is a major issue. The Cardinal have had some great moments this year, and they're playing very well right now, but it's hard for me to see them beating a team like Texas A&M, or Rutgers, at this point in the season.

That said, I think it's more possible this year than in years past ...

I can see you not being high on Stanford but why Rutgers ? Stanford beat Rutgers at Rutgers this year. In addition Rutgers is not at full strength. Watching Rutgers play it looks to me that there is something wrong with Kia Vaughn. She is probably playing hurt. I predict an early exit for Rutgers this year.

Also, how quick were Marist guards last year. They shocked a number of teams.

[playoff]

.....care what color? Seems like basketball is very well integrated, so don't get it. If anything, there are very few white players on the most elite teams. Seems like coaches and AD don't care about color. Do we really need to bring up color???????

[Sam]

If you're willing to go the assistant coach route, either Caldwell or Elliot would be an excellent choice. Both are up and coming young coaches with significant responsibilities in two of the best programs in women's basketball - Tenn & Conn. Caldwell has made no secret of her desire to be a head coach and is already being mentioned at Alabama. There is tremendous upside potential with these two but the downside is that we really don't know what they can do as the top dog. Being a head coach isn't the same as being a great recruiter - just ask Mickey DeMoss - so there's a significant unknown when you hire a lifelong assistant for the head position.

If UCLA wants to take the tried and true path of hiring a proven D1 head coach, here's a list for consideration - the top 20 coaches, by winning percentage (minimum 5 years experience):

1. Pat Summitt (84.0%) - Unattainable at any price
2. Geno Auriemma (83.8%) - Unattainable at any price
3. Gail Goestenkors (80.0%) - Just moved to Texas. Would have to have serious issues there to move again any time soon.
4. Tara VanDerveer (78.9%)
5. Wes Moore (77.9%) - Interesting. UT Chattanooga is not the biggest stage, but it was big enough to take Rutgers out of the 2004 NCAA tournament.
6. Robin Selvig (77.8%) - Probably in the twilight of his career.
7. Kim Mulkey (77.5%) - The intensity of a young Pat Summitt. If I were looking for a good, young coach, I'd start here.
8. Andy Landers (76.1%)
9. Tom Collen (75.6%) - Just took head job at Arkansas.
10. Vivian Stringer (74.9%) - Can't see her making another career change at this stage of life, but Van Chancellor surprised me.
11. Kristy Curry (74.3%) - Great record at Purdue, but Texas Tech is proving to be a bit more of a challenge.
12. Carey Green (74.3%) - Liberty - another lead actor on a small stage.
13. Joe McKeown (74.3%) - If you're looking for a man, why not Joe?
14. Van Chancellor (74.0%) - One of the classiest coaches around - but he's not leaving LSU.
15. Kevin Borseth (73.5%) - Uh oh - the video.
16. Sylvia Hatchell (73.4%) - Another twilighter, but what about one of her assistants?
17. Wendy Larry (73.2%) - Could she win the big one at a bigger school?
18. Bill Fennelly (71.2%) - Must be doing something right at Iowa State - attendance is 9,000 per game and he's been given a lifetime contract, whatever that is.
19. Jim Foster (71.2%) - I like him, but he's a perennial runner up.
20. Elaine Elliott (71.1%) - Does UCLA need her, or does she need UCLA to take the next step up?

[CaliforniaBasketball]

Kareem? Are you serious? He's never coached women. Or anyone.

Lisa Leslie? She's never coached anywhere.

Cheryl Miller? She quit on Phoenix, and never looked back. And, if I'm not mistaken, she went to some other school in LA.

Bo Overton? A guy who gets kicked out for alleged sexual harassment (and I use the word 'alleged' just to save Hoopgurlz)?

As for Stanford in postseason, quickness in the backcourt is a major issue. The Cardinal have had some great moments this year, and they're playing very well right now, but it's hard for me to see them beating a team like Texas A&M, or Rutgers, at this point in the season.

That said, I think it's more possible this year than in years past ...


Oh I just found out about the allegations, scratch his name. How about Mitty's head coach Sue Phillips. She seems like a good one.

[CaliforniaBasketball]

Stanford is going to surprise you this year. Yes there are teams that can beat Stanford but not Rutgers this year. Teams I would worry about are Maryland, LSU and UCONN.

I am pretty sure Stanford will get a 1 seed and I would LOVE LSU as our 2 seed instead of Maryland or Rutgers. If you stop Big Syl and limit Erica White's drive and dish and watch out for some of th eouside threats, they are vey beatable.

[ClayKallam]

If UCLA will pay, the Bruins can get a sure thing: An experienced D1 coach with a good record and reputation. If not, they will have to gamble on someone like Kelly Graves of Gonzaga or an assistant who hasn't been a head coach (like Tia Jackson or LaVonda Wagner) -- that may work, or may not, but put a quality coach in Westwood, and a national power will emerge in very short order.

[CaliforniaBasketball]

UCLA really has some nice talent. They have a great post in Rogers, guards Campbell and Morris, Atonye next season. They have definitly been underachieving

[BrooklynSaints]

UCLA really has some nice talent. They have a great post in Rogers, guards Campbell and Morris, Atonye next season. They have definitly been underachieving

I think Rogers will have to get into a lot better shape to be considered a great post. For now she is a post that has potential to be great.

[CaliforniaBasketball]

I think Rogers will have to get into a lot better shape to be considered a great post. For now she is a post that has potential to be great.

She is the same size as Paris and Paris is a great post.

[chimera]

She is the same size as Paris and Paris is a great post.

I can't claim to have seen a lot of Rogers but in the four or five games I have seen, she her most notable stat was fouls, which came early and often. She has a long way to go to be a great post.

[rwdinsalem]

How about Jen Rizzotti? Look at what she has done at Hartford. And those UConn ties can't hurt either.

[ClayKallam]

Rizzotti is a good call -- she would be a very interesting choice. Her lack of California connections might be an issue, but she certainly would come in with a reputation.

As for Rogers, to compare her to Paris is simply wrong. She's a borderline starter for a mediocre team, while Paris has been a dominant player since her first collegiate game.

As always, people look at Paris and think 'Big and slow' -- they have no idea how good an athlete she is, or how skilled she is. Remember, she's doing all this at about 6-2, so she doesn't have a height advantage on most BCS posts, so it's not like she's just taller than everyone else.

Rogers isn't even close to Paris, and doesn't appear to me to be ready to make up the gap in the near future. She well could become a solid Pac-10 post and maybe a WNBA player, but off of her freshman season, you have to wonder. Then again, maybe better coaching will help her make a big improvement.

[kat0189]

How many qualified women are there that want to coach nba and mens college basketball? I would guess very few. It is no secret that that college administration is going out of their way to hire women as head coaches, 9 out 10 pac 10 coaches are women.

Go ask Geno Auriemma how he feels about what is going on in hiring coaches in women's basketball? I have no problem in hiring women, but when 80 percent or 90 percent in the pac 10 of coaches are women. Whats next? You can not be white or straight?

My point is when you start your search and say we prefer to hire a women head coach. Well that is where the line is crossed, right at the start.

Actually, 45% of the Pac-10 basketball coaches are women. The 9:1 female to male coaches ratio is almost as bad as the 10:0 ratio of male to female coaches on the other side. If gender wasn't factored in, then there wouldn't be women's basketball in the first place, because then only the most qualified athletes would be enabled to play, regardless of gender! Your analysis is completely ahistorical and nearsighted.

[intelligenthoodlum]

Okay, sports fans--so Niya Butts is getting about $200,000, and Joanne Boyle is getting about $600,000.
So, it's reasonable to say that paying a major-D-1 coach about $400,000-$500,000 should get you: a top-four finish in your league EVERY year; a minimum Sweet-Sixteen appearance three out of every four years, with the occasional Elite-Eight/Final-Four appearance; certain Booster Club/Alumni targets, and certain attendance requirements; EVERY player has to graduate in good standing.

Would Athletic Director Intelligent Hoodlum, major-D-1 university, be unreasonable with his MINIMUM expectations of a $400,000 head coach, sports fans?

For example:
- first six years at UCLA/years 2-5 are YOUR draft classes
- years 1-2, 1 Post-Season NIT appearance
- years 3-6, 4th place and higher in the Pac-10
- years 3-6, 3 Sweet-Sixteen appearances
- years 3-6, 1 Elite-Eight appearance
- years 7-10, 3rd place and higher in the Pac-10
- years 7-10, 4 Sweet-Sixteen appearances
- years 7-10, 1 Elite Eight appearance
- years 7-10, 1 Final-Four appearance

So, sports fans, how about 8 top-four Pac-10 finishes/10 years, 7 Sweet-Sixteen appearances/10 years, with 2 Elite-Eight appearances and 1 Final-Four appearance thrown in there, somewhere?

To be continued, to be sure...

[Pundit2007]

I think she would be a great fit as the next coach for UCLA

[ClayKallam]

>a top-four finish in your league EVERY year; a minimum Sweet-Sixteen appearance three out of every four years, with the occasional Elite-Eight/Final-Four appearance; certain Booster Club/Alumni targets, and certain attendance requirements; EVERY player has to graduate in good standing.

If more than four teams in the league pay $400,000, some AD is going to be unhappy.

My coach needs to one of the top 16 in the nation three years out of four. That's 48 spots -- so presumably no more than 48 schools can be paying $400,000 or more. I don't think 48 schools pay that much, so in some ways it might actually be easier, by this metric, to reach the Sweet 16 three times out of four than to finish in the top four in the SEC, say.

Sucking up to the fat cats is just like recruiting players, so that should be no problem.

Attendance is a tough one, though that's what June Daugherty got fired for, ostensibly. Coaching is not marketing, after all -- if the team wins a bunch of games and is entertaining, that's pretty much all the coach can do. The rest is up to the marketing department.

Graduation accountability is good, but 100% is asking a lot. After all, you're dealing with teenagers here, and flaking out is not only possible, but likely.

[Sam]

Is this the same Molly Goodenbour that was accused of abusing her Chico State players so badly that she lost 7 players over the course of a year?

[ClayKallam]

There are mixed reports about Goodenbour. Some people think she's a great coach, others don't think much of her at all.

[fhire]

Please Forgive My East Coast Slant for a West Coast Job

1. J. Elliott UConn
2. T. Adair Wake Forest
3. M. Chin Seton Hall
4. K. Harper West Carolina
5. S.Messer GTech
6. K. Elzy U of Kansas
7. J. Williams Pitt
8. E. Davis Del. State
9. B. Giorgis Marist
10. K. Whittington Marist
11. P. Bibbs NC A&T
12. T. Williams UNC
13 T.Trice NC State
14. J. Fernandez USF
15. Anders ASU
16.C. Cooper Prairie View A&M
17. T. Mays LSU
18. J. Rizzotti U of Hartford
19. N. Pointer Rutgers
20. J. House UVA

I think any one of selections for the job would be a great selections. They all have great X and O savy, great recruiters, they develop players and they would be hungry. In addition they all for the most part represent new blood.

[ClayKallam]

Kellie Harper is an interesting choice as well ... if everybody insists on hiring someone with Tennessee bloodlines, at least hire someone who's been a successful head coach.

[Sam]

I understand that N. Caldwell met with UCLA officials this past Friday - One more Tennessee jet on the runway. The general consensus is that it's only a matter of time before she emerges as a top notch head coach, but like several others mentioned, she's totally unproven in that role to date. Being a great assistant is not the same thing as being a great head coach, and many great assistants have proven the validity of the Peter Principle by pursuing promotion to head coaching positions and thus achieving their level of incompetence. On the other hand, better to hire someone who's proven themselves as a great assistant than to hire a name professional player who's never coached at any level, or a fan favorite alum whose coaching performance has not measured up to their performance as a player.

For the conspiracy theorists - Summit's real goal is to place her former players in as many head or assistant coaching positions as possible so that she can eventually control the outcome of any game that she desires. The end game occurs when she gets someone on the Connecticut staff.