(WBK) Kelly Rae Finley: Time to Drop the "Interim"

I think the biggest positive is hopefully getting a few players to use that extra year. Now we have got to hit the trail with a coach in place and secure some commits.

 

I never doubted that she would be chosen. Good job Scottie.


And Kelly, just a heads up, we need a SECC in Year 3 and a NC in Year 4 or 5. Nothing to worry about, correct?

 

She has an infectiously positive demeanor. Can she recruit to a higher level?

 

Talk about not aging well, that's a real stinker. LOL.

 

That's the big question. Now that the interim is gone we will be able to fairly assess her recruiting. She hasn't landed anyone as interim but hardly any coach would.

 

Congratulations!!

 

Wonderful news! Can she recruit? Well, if you like the players currently on the team then…yeah, she can recruit. I think she will be an absolute star as head coach. Whole lotta love!

 

Maybe she can bring in some assistants that can recruit. Did she hire any assistants as interim?

 

Julie Plank - Women's Basketball Coach - Florida Gators

 

Wow, impressive resume. Not sure about her recruiting ability currently. The girls’ taste of success on the court this year will help.

 

I hope it works out, it's really hard to tell if her accomplishments this season are sustainable. The 3-game losing streak to close the season kind of stained what was an excellent regular season.

 

Not hiring anyone is not really an option.

 

Not sure we can conclude that she can recruit based on the current team. She was an assistant when they commited and no one has commited to her as an interim. No assistant is a primary recruiter for every player... nor do they even make the final decision on who gets recruited. Now that the interim tag is off we will be able to see. What we do know is that the current players seem to love her and that she exceeded expectations this year coaching wise. With the momentum from this past season she has a real chance to succeed. If she gets Zippy back and finds 1-2 impact players in the portal it will be a great sign. I hope and think she will recruit well enough, but it is a bit of an unknown so far.

 

She has all of the positive press in the world behind her right now. Really hopeful that it can pay immediate dividends. Would be awesome if the team can do some damage in March to keep her in the spotlight.

 

The way you worship at the alter of the guy is disheartening. UF's athletic program is never going to be top-notch as long as this level of bare competency is laurelized.

If he thought she was a worthy coach, he could have hired here in January. The evidence was of her competence was there -- and to be fair, it wouldn't have been a fair trial for her if she had stunk this year given the circumstances of her hiring -- but he waited until not hiring her was going to become a talked-about issue during the SEC tournament. I'm sort of surprised he did it, because I think he's stubborn enough to hold out longer, but it follows -- KRF made it nearly impossible not to hire her, and had the interim not been removed it would have been a major conversation point on multiple TV broadcasts.

I'm happy for her and I think it's best for the team because I don't trust him to go outside looking. She fell into his lap, and he was at least smart enough not to blow it, so I guess that's something.

 

Excuse me - our athletic program has been in the top 10 in the country every year since 1984. We are top notch.

 

I remember everyone saying at the beginning of the season that unless she made the tourney, there is no way she would be considered as the permanent replacement. I would have to say she knocked her "audition" out of the park. Congrat's Kelly Rae!

Of course ESPN has to write an article that includes criticism that some former players said she didn't do enough to stop Newbauer from abuse. ESPN sux

 

At all of her previous stops she was recognized as an outstanding recruiter.