EXCLUSIVE: Cooley Picks UConn’s Andre LaFleur To Be Associate Head Coach
Friday, April 15, 2011
GoLocalProv.com has learned that LaFleur will be named Cooley’s associate head coach at PC sometime next week, possibly as early as Monday.
LaFleur just finished his 10th season at the University of Connecticut where the Huskies won the 2011 National Championship by defeating Butler in Houston.
He joined Jim Calhoun’s staff as Director of Basketball Operations in 2001, a role he served in for three seasons. LaFleur was elevated to an assistant coaching role prior to the 2004-2005 season. Among the players he recruited directly was Final Four MVP and All-American Kemba Walker.
Cooley spent days at the Final Four in Houston talking to former Virginia head coach and UConn assistant Dave Leitao. He reportedly tried to convince Leitao to join him here in Providence as associate head coach but Leitao had his eyes on Cooley’s former position at Fairfield.
Sources say Cooley also put the full court press on Wake Forest associate head coach Jeff Battle to join him here in that same position but was also turned down.
LaFleur played for Jim Calhoun at Northeastern University on the same team with the late Reggie Lewis. He is 46 years old.
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Comments:
Frank Fields
7:02pm on Saturday, April 16, 2011
What a great get for PC. Have been following Uconn for years. He was instumental in getting the players for us to make the final 4 these last couple of years. He can recruit and has an eye for talent. He was the man that brought Kemba in. The BEST PLAYER in Uconn history. Thabeet was a good one also. Best of luck to him even though we are sad to see him go. Go HUSKIES
Kevin Seaman
8:12pm on Saturday, April 16, 2011
Why would LaFluer leave UCONN ? Would he not have been in line to replace Calhoun when he decides to leave ? Does this solidify Miller as an assistant at UCONN or is he going to Colgate? Who would be a potential replacement for Calhoun when he decides to leave? Can't see Miller filling Calhoun's shoes after the Penn debacle....or do those memories fade fast?
Scott Cordischi
10:15pm on Saturday, April 16, 2011
Kevin:
LaFluer, in my opinion, leaves UConn because this is a promotion to associate head coach. Bigger position, more money. At UConn he had to be frustrated to see Kevin Ollie come in this year and immediately leapfrog him on the coaching depth chart in the eyes of many. Most belive that Ollie will replace UConn. That has to be tough to swallow for a guy that's been on the staff for 10 years. As for Miller, he stays at UConn filling LaFluer's role and doesn't go to Colgate.
Scott Cordischi
10:16pm on Saturday, April 16, 2011
I meant to say that most believe that Ollie will replace Calhoun at UConn when Calhoun retires.