Coaching Shakeup at UNC

It's ok; nothing like Roy Williams resigning or being involved in some scandal (Rick Pitino), but I am suprised by this news. As you know, Coach Williams has on his staff Joe Holladay, Steve Robinson, C. B. McGrath, and Jerod Haase, but NCAA rules only allow for 3 assistant coaches. Williams, being the mastermind that he is, had a title of director of basketball operations, which C. B. McGrath and Jerod Haase rotated this position every other year. I also think this position allowed for the director of basketball operations to be involved with coaching the JV team, but not sure.

Well now, Joe Holladay is going to assume this position and will rotate with McGrath and Hasse every year so that one of them is the director of basketball operations every three years. At first, I was shocked by this decision, because I always think of Joe Holladay as a fixture on the bench and has a calming effect on Williams when he gets irate, but there are a few things to consider:


1. Holladay is 61 years old and he probably will not want to coach for too many more years. This leads to the second point, which is


2. Experience. C.B. McGrath has worked with Williams for 10 years, but has only been an assistant coach for 6. Haase has been with Williams for the same amount of time and has only been an assistant for 4 years (best guess - not sure on the exact experience). neither of these assistant coaches have the experience that Holladay has, so why not build them up while Holladay can still be involved with the program.


If you don't think that Holladay won't be involved somehow in the coaching, either offering advice or giving input when Roy asks for it, you're nuts. I think this is a smart move by Williams and will benefit UNC in the long run. Williams said "we have a deeper bench now," so that's probably why the move was made.


As far as what the director of basketball operations does, I think I remember reading a long time ago that it involves planning trips (hotels, meals, travel arrangements, etc) and other things I'm sure.


Not all hope is lost on the bench because Steve Robinson is still there. Remember he was the head coach at Florida State and Tulsa. I hope Robinson never leaves because that will leave a big hole in the bench. At Holladay's current age and his relationship with Roy Williams, it's hard to imagine him ever leaving Williams' staff before retiring. Depending on how McGrath and Haase do in the future, they are possibilities for head coaching positions of their own.

If something does happen in the near future as far as an assistant coach leaving UNC, my best guess (and probably wishful thinking) is that Wes Miller will be in line to eventually replace one of them, but that doesn't look like it will happen for 3 years or so. I'm not worried.