UConn Huskies Make Perfect Hires To Fill Out Coaching Staff

It was announced today that Jim Calhoun and the UConn Huskies had hired Kevin Ollie as an assistant coach and Glen Miller as director of basketball administration.

The two men are returning to UConn to fill vacancies created when assistant coach Patrick Sellers and director of basketball operations Beau Archibald resigned/were forced-out for their role in UConn's NCAA violations.

Despite reaching the Final Four in 2009, the UConn "faithful" have been griping loudly about the "significant drop-off" in the program, particularly in the area of recruiting.

While dismissals/resignations stemming from NCAA violations are clearly not how you like to see these things happen, Ollie and Miller represent a huge upgrade over their respective predecessors on the coaching staff.

Kevin Ollie remains one of the most beloved Huskies in program history, and is a dream hire for long-time UConn fans.

The 37 year-old Ollie was Jim Calhoun's first major recruit from the West Coast. Hailing from Los Angeles, Ollie's signing was one of the first sure signs that UConn was evolving into a true national basketball power. Ollie played for the Huskies from 1991-1995 and led the team to the Elite Eight in 1995.

Undrafted coming out of college, Kevin Ollie went on to have a 13 year NBA career spanning 12 teams. The ultimate NBA journeyman, Ollie personified the benefits of an exceptional work ethic and good character. His last several NBA jobs were almost solely based on his positive locker room presence and ability to serve as a role model for the boys who make up a good portion of the NBA population these days.

Ollie, along with fellow assistant coach Andre LaFleur, will take point on off-campus recruiting. I cannot think of a better ambassador for Jim Calhoun, the university, and the UConn basketball program.

Glen Miller, a 1986 graduate of UConn and yet another former Calhoun player, was a member of Calhoun's first coaching staff at UConn, serving as an assistant coach from 1986-1993. Miller left to become the head coach at D-III Connecticut College before moving on to head coaching stops at Brown and Penn.

Again, it is tough to imagine a finer representative for both the University of Connecticut and Jim Calhoun.

The director of basketball administration role being filled by Miller is substantially different than the director of operations position. As noted in the Hartford Courant, this newly expanded role will have a much greater hand in the areas of compliance, academics, and game operations.

Interestingly, for a team with a reputation for developing shot blockers and big men, the UConn coaching staff now consists entirely of former guards. Miller, LaFleur, Ollie, and George Blaney were all point guards, while Calhoun was a shooting guard.

The UConn basketball program is not nearly in the state of disrepair that many would lead you to believe (one bad season?), but the addition of these two fine men should shore up whatever weaknesses do exist.

Who knows—maybe Miller or Ollie even emerge as candidates to replace Calhoun whenever the legend decides it is time to step down.

A fine incoming freshman class and now major upgrades to the coaching staff—things are looking good in Huskies Nation.