HARTFORD — Kevin Ollie entered an extremely difficult situation at Connecticut. Befitting a Preacher — the nickname many have given the first-year Connecticut coach — he dealt with it with the positivity of one of his sermon-like speeches.
No postseason because of academic ineligibility? Ollie, a former star at UConn and 13-year NBA veteran, told his players he wanted them to be the hardest working team in the country.
Working on a one-year interim contract after replacing retired legend Jim Calhoun? Ollie said he first wanted to see his players succeed, and later worried about his own future.
“You never get back these days,” was a familiar refrain, star junior guard Shabazz Napier recalled.
Five of the program’s top players leaving, either for the NBA Draft or to head to other programs? It created opportunity for others, Ollie said.
His positivity and most importantly on-court results — in which he dealt with the obstacles was recently rewarded by the school, when Ollie was given a five-year extension worth just under $7 million. It was of course made possible by how his team performed on the court, where the young Huskies are an impressive 13-5 and 3-3 in the Big East after yesterday’s 66-54 win over Rutgers at the XL Center in Hartford.
“It motivated us to win to get better, to get him the job,” Napier said. “He just says certain things, to make sure you understand he’s there for [us].”
Ollie has done “a tremendous job,” Rutgers coach Mike Rice said. His fingerprints are on the program, with how hard his team plays, for themselves and each other.
“People don’t understand how hard the psyche is of preparing a UConn that doesn’t have a postseason,” Rice said.
Throw in the large shoes of Calhoun Ollie was stepping into, the program’s youth and short bench, and it’s even more impressive. If not for the ban, UConn would be firmly on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. It nearly upset Louisville, before the Cardinals’ recent swoon, and Ollie has signed two top New York-area prospects, point guard Terrence Samuel from Brooklyn and Long Island forward Kentan Facey, to ensure a bright future.
Napier, who was brilliant against Rutgers, with 19 points, six assists and five rebounds, said this year’s team has been able to keep its composure better than last winter, when several games got away late. There is more leadership on the floor, a compliment to the work Ollie has done.
He’s focused on improvement and outworking the opposition, not wins and losses.
“I’m happy we’re 13-5, but that’s not the point,” Ollie said, his voice rising like he was delivering a sermon. “I don’t go in and say we get to 20 wins, I’m happy. I go in and say our team has to improve each and every day, and if we improve each and every day, I’m going to be happy. Wins and losses is fine, but if we’re improving and growing and [our players are] giving they’re all and being accountable for themselves and our team, that’s when I’m happy. That’s how I want our team to improve.”
He went into Preacher mode when asked after the win if he was happy.
“I’m happy every day I wake up and I’m breathing,” he said, his voice rising like he was delivering a sermon and the media was his pulpit. “A lot of people don’t wake up. We got these sneakers on [to raise money] for cancer [research] and a lot of people have cancer.”
Players swear by Ollie, though The Preacher rarely cusses. Unlike his predecessor Calhoun, who was known to rip into his entire team in one sitting, Ollie motivates through kindness. He seldom yells, preferring to correct mistakes with a soothing tone.
“He tries to bring you up,” sophomore forward DeAndre Daniels said. “It’s what this team needs.”
At a time when there was nothing but negativity around UConn, Ollie brought positives. Calhoun built the program from obscurity to national prominence, leading the Huskies to three national titles. Ollie’s job is now to continue the proud tradition, after proving to the administration he deserves to stay around. His team’s performance suggests he’s more than up to the job.
“Kevin Ollie,” Daniels said, “is going to be the next star here.”