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Well, I'm not that concerned because Lute is only going to be around for a year or two more and in the meantime has continued to recruit effectively which should keep our head above water. Despite what alleged UA insider Skkorp insists, Lute doesn't plan on hanging around that much longer which is why he brought in Kevin O'Neill last summer to be his successor. KO had the reigns of one of the best coaching jobs in basketball (certainly so in salary terms) but by screwing things up and pissing off pretty much everyone around the program he necessitated Lute's return. Lute would be living the bachelor life right now between Tucson and San Diego if KO had a clue, this upcoming season was to be Lute's last.
The thing I find funny among ASU fans especially Skkorp is the general theme that UA bringing Lute back (or more accurately Lute forcing his way back in) is some sort of mistake. You have no idea how screwed this program would've been had Lute been given the boot as people like Jim Livengood and Greg Hansen pushed for. Our starting five in 2008-2009 would've looked like Oregon State, our recruiting would have gone in the tank in the near future, and every dime and ounce of energy our countless NBA players and alums give to the program would've gone bye-bye. And that's without mentioning there would have been thousands of fans like myself who would've turned their back on the school for firing the guy who built the program and pretty much the entire athletic department for having the audacity to go 20-10 a few times. It would have made the fallout from the Tomey firing which still haunts the football program to this day look tame.
Well said. I don't understand all the hand-wringing myself. Our 2008 class is Top 10 because we have Lute Olson, as you said.
2009 5-star recruit Abdul Gaddy is going to UA because Olson is coming back.
At that rant, which I won't deign to call a news conference, I detected no signs of Lute wanting to hire his eventual replacement. Quite the contrary.
I saw an arrogant man who considers it his right to continue coaching for a long time and plans to do so.
He cant hire his eventual replacement with no assistant coaching positions available and the "named" successor still under contract with the university. So im not sure what you wanted him to do.
Lute HAS to say he will be around till the end of his contract, because if he doesnt he would be getting hammered by the press, by coaches on the recruiting trail (even more), and in the recruit's homes.
Published: 04.23.2008 O'Neill's UA future settled any day?
Steve Rivera Tucson Citizen
The fate of Arizona assistant basketball coach Kevin O'Neill could be determined as early as Wednesday.
Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood said he and O'Neill will meet Wednesday morning at McKale Center.
"We'll be discussing his situation,'' said Livengood, who declined to elaborate.
In a televised news conference last month, UA coach Lute Olson said O'Neill would not return to his coaching staff in 2008-09.
O'Neill, however, has an verbal contract for next season that pays him $375,000, and Livengood in December said O'Neill would succeed Olson when the 73-year- old coach retires.
It's unclear whether O'Neill, who made $700,000-plus this season as interim head coach, would accept a buyout. He declined comment Tuesday, but confirmed he would meet with Livengood on Wednesday.
Arizona cannot hire another assistant coach until the O'Neill situation is cleared up. UA assistant coaches are hired on year-to-year contracts.
Arizona reassigns Kevin O'Neill within athletic department
TUCSON (AP) — Arizona assistant basketball coach Kevin O'Neill has been reassigned to duties within the athletic department.
The 51-year-old O'Neill was hired as an assistant to coach Lute Olson last spring, and he took over as interim coach while Olson took a personal leave of absence last season. After Olson returned in March, he announced that O'Neill would no longer be a part of his staff.
Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood said O'Neill would serve as an assistant athletic director until June 30, the end of the department's fiscal year.
"Kevin and I will sit down in mid-June to determine the next step," Livengood said in a statement on Wednesday.
O'Neill had a contract for this year and a verbal agreement to serve as an assistant coach next season
Arizona gave O'Neill a $350,000 raise to serve as interim coach on top of his $375,000 base salary as an assistant coach. In December, Livengood announced that O'Neill would succeed Olson after the 73-year-old Hall of Famer retires.
It's the second time in less than a year that Olson has banished an assistant. Last spring, he replaced longtime aide Jim Rosborough with O'Neill.
During his tenure as interim head coach, O'Neill led Arizona to a 19-15 record and the school's 24th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the nation's longest active streak.
In other words, we're going to hide you in your basement office until you find another job or your contract runs out.
Thing is I'm not sure where in the NBA or in major college hoops that KO could get a job at this point. The guy has pretty much burned every bridge he ever crossed.
__________________
Addressing the Core by Rod Graves:
1. Re-sign Calvin Pace (Miss)
2. Negotiate Extension with Dansby (Miss #2)
3. Re-structure Fitzgerald (TBD)
In other words, we're going to hide you in your basement office until you find another job or your contract runs out.
Thing is I'm not sure where in the NBA or in major college hoops that KO could get a job at this point. The guy has pretty much burned every bridge he ever crossed.
Stanford?
I am only half joking have you seen the list of candidates there?
That would be an intersting hire, the guy couldn't even keep his nose clean at Kansas and UCLA.
He just quit his job with the sixers too.
I can't imagine a 67 year old Larry Brown approaching a 15 year old HS soph and being able to convince him that if you commit to Stanford I'll be your coach for 4 years.
Now a 15 year old probably won't know Larry's history of job hopping but he'll certainly know Larry would be 73 when I'm a senior at Stanford, and his father would probably be familiar with Larry's track record of not sticking around.
Would be interesting though he's always been a hell of a coach, but I don't know if he can get todays kids to respond the way he did in the 80s at UCLA or Kansas.
ANd the first time he gets rejected by admissions for a kid that would easily qualify somewhere else he's going to wonder what the hell he got into.
Former ASU assistant Russ Pennell IN as UofA assistant.
Has strong ties to the Valley. Think Lute saw the area slipping.
Name the last Phoenix kid that's worth a damn that shot down Arizona.
Last I can remember is Jason Fontenet and that's because his dad tried to package deal him and his mid-major brother together. A package deal Rob Evans wisely denied as well if I remember correctly. Carlino was most likely UA-bound even without the hire (if not UA then UCLA), the kid grew up an Arizona fan. Of course that's barring ASU hiring Carlino's Dad.
__________________
Addressing the Core by Rod Graves:
1. Re-sign Calvin Pace (Miss)
2. Negotiate Extension with Dansby (Miss #2)
3. Re-structure Fitzgerald (TBD)
Last edited by MaoTosiFanClub; April 24th, 2008 at 11:46 PM.
FYI you guys are probably aware but Abdul Gaddy was apparently the best player at the recent AAU event(last weekend). Apparently just had a brilliant week although his team ultimately lost to Pump N Run.
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