UConn men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie has been named as a potential candidate for the head coaching job at the Los Angeles Lakers. Mike D'Antoni resigned as the coach of the Lakers earlier this week after two lackluster seasons.
According to several sources, the Lakers are working through a long list of potential candidates that include ex-Lakers Byron Scott and Kurt Rambis, veteran coaches like George Karl and Jeff Van Gundy, and some successful college coaches, including Kevin Ollie, who led the Huskies to a national championship in just his first year as head coach.
Hartford Courant sports writer Dom Amore said Ollie's coaching style is a good fit for the NBA. "He has a knack for developing talent," Amore said. "He has a knack for handling younger players, and I think that's essential in the NBA. He's got both elements that you're looking for: he knows the league, and he's proven he can be a head coach."
Amore said UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel is in the process of negotiating a new, more lucrative contract with Kevin Ollie.
There's no way UConn can offer Ollie the same kind of money an NBA team can, but after playing for 12 NBA teams in 13 years, Ollie may prefer settling down and building his own dynasty in Storrs to a high-paying but unpredictable job in the NBA.