The New Orleans Pelicans have begun their search for a new head coach, and one name with a track record of success at the college level is being discussed.
Former Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Kevin Ollie will “be among those who get consideration for the position,” according to SNY’s Ian Begley. Ollie was an assistant for the Nets for one season (2023-2024) and served as the team’s interim head coach in 2024 after Jacque Vaugh was fired.
Before joining the Nets, Ollie was the head coach at UConn from 2012-2018, where he coached future NBA players including Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Andre Drummond and Shabazz Napier. Ollie played guard in the NBA for 13 seasons with 12 different teams before joining the coaching ranks.
The Pelicans fired head coach Wille Green on Saturday, November 15 after a 2-10 start to the season. New Orleans is tied for the second-worst record in the NBA and is in last place in the Western Conference. James Borrego has taken over as the interim head coach and will also be considered for the full-time role.
Kevin Ollie’s Success At UConn
Ollie is best known for his success at UConn, his alma mater, where he guided the Huskies to a national championship in 2014. UConn was a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and knocked off No. 1 seed Florida 63-53 in the Final Four before defeating No. 8 Kentucky 60-54 in the title game.
Ollie took over the Huskies in 2012, and the team went 20-10 that season before posting a 32-8 record in the next. However, UConn struggled after winning the national title, reaching the NCAA Tournament just once more under the head coach.
Ollie had a 127-79 overall record at UConn before the school fired him in 2018 for violating NCAA rules. Ollie was accused of a “failure to monitor” his program and not promoting an atmosphere of compliance. The school was also forced to vacate wins from the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
Ollie did not get back into coaching again until 2023 when he joined the Nets. The team went 32-50 that season, with Ollie taking over as interim head coach after the All-Star break.
New Orleans Pelicans Are In A State Of Disarray
The Pelicans have been one of the worst teams in the NBA to begin the season — ranking as a bottom-five squad in both offensive and defensive rating — which led to Green’s firing. He went 150-190 in five seasons leading the team.
To make matters worse for New Orleans, they do not own their first round pick in next year’s draft, which is looking like it’s going to be a lottery selection. They sent their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks during the 2025 draft to move up and select center Derik Queen.
Borrego has been tabbed as an interim head coach for the second time in his career. He went 10-20 in the same role with the Orlando Magic in 2014-15, after the team fired Vaughn. Borrego then spent four seasons as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, posting a 138-163 record.
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