It appeared that as soon as the Thunder fired their head coach Scott Brooks, the rumors swirled aplenty for who would be their new coach.
College coaches seemed to be the main theme for the Thunder with Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan and UConn Huskies coach Kevin Ollie being the main targets for the Thunder fresh off the firing.
Donovan surfaced as the early favorite for the job but Ollie also reportedly had an increased interest in the job despite the fact that he said he didn’t want the job.
Now it appears the Thunder had their eye on Ollie for a long time now, at least a year to be precise.
From SNY.tv
The source added: “OKC has been trying to get Ollie to leave for a year. He is loyal to UConn and loves his job but if KD [Kevin Durant] and Russ [Westbrook] want him there to make a run at a title, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. He won’t pass it up.”
the SNY.tv source said Tuesday night that Oklahoma City “believes in Ollie” and “he’s their No. 1 target.”
“There is no formal offer on the table, but he’s first in line,” the source said. “Oklahoma City is fully committed to trying to get him to commit.”
Ollie going to the Thunder makes some sort of sense. He’s been a member of the Thunder organization and he’s had some success in the college ranks winning an NCAA Championship with the UConn Huskies in his first season as head coach.
But, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Ollie’s name is out as head coach.
UConn's Kevin Ollie has removed himself from consideration for the OKC head coaching position, sources told @CBSSports. Story coming.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 23, 2015
Ollie being out now all but clears the way for Donovan, for the moment at least. I wouldn’t expect Donovan to be just handed the job very easily though without the Thunder going through the proper due process.
There are other legitimate options out there like Mark Jackson, Mike Malone and Alvin Gentry but will a team filled with veterans really be coached by a college coach that loves to yell more than anything? I sure hope not.
