Kevin O'Neill, UT basketball coach, 1994.
This year celebrates the centennial season of men's basketball at Tennessee. The News Sentinel continues its series looking into the players, teams and events that have molded an exciting history.
Earlier this week, Auburn made news by beating Tuskegee, 75-32. It was the lowest score by an Auburn opponent in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum. The previous mark was in 1997, a 43-35 win over Tennessee.
Ah, yes. The Kevin O’Neill Era, when 43-35 was no fluke.
When O’Neill arrived in Knoxville on March 28, 1994, Tennessee basketball was as low as its ever been. He adopted a scorched-earth approach to rebuilding. Scorching the nets, however, wasn’t part of the agenda.
The Wade Houston era ended with a 5-22 season and O’Neill didn’t waste time cleaning house. Nine of Houston’s players would be gone by the middle of O’Neill’s first season.
As the ever-quotable O’Neill summed it up, those players got on a plane bound for San Juan and ended up in Iceland. San Juan being the laid-back Houston regime, Iceland the tough-love, acerbic-tongued discipline O’Neill dispensed on a daily basis.
The best player he inherited was 7-footer Steve Hamer, who was a two-time second-team All-SEC pick and to this day is the Vols’ most recent All-SEC tournament pick (1996).
O’Neill lasted only three seasons at UT and left a bittersweet legacy. His slate ended 36-47, only 14-32 in SEC play. His teams were 1-13 against ranked opponents. The only postseason appearance was an NIT loss to College of Charleston.
Yet O’Neill, a recruiting maniac, brought the talent to campus that would lead to a four-year NCAA-tournament run under his successor, Jerry Green.
O’Neill’s defense-first philosophy was not spectator-friendly. His first team averaged only 57.2 points. His second team was his most prolific, averaging 62.5 His three seasons were UT’s lowest offensive outputs since 1951-52.
Seven times in his first year, the Vols scored in the 40s. His second team lost 90-50 to Kentucky, the worst home loss in UT history.
His third team lost 42-41 at Penn State — and that was in overtime. Regulation was 33-33. The 35 points at Auburn later that season were UT’s fewest of the shot-clock era. A 54-40 win over ETSU in 1996 stands as the fewest combined points ever in Thompson-Boling Arena.
O’Neill bolted to Northwestern after the 1996-97 season ended, in part because of a spat with athletic director Doug Dickey over an ineligibility ruling on freshman Isiah Victor. But O’Neill left a far better program than he had found three years prior.
Four players he recruited would finish among UT’s top 25 all-time scorers: Brandon Wharton, Tony Harris, Victor and C.J. Black. O’Neill also gets an assist for Vincent Yarbrough by signing his older brother, Del Baker.
Green parlayed O’Neill’s players and recruiting momentum into four consecutive NCAA tournaments and a share of the 2000 SEC title.
“I did what I was hired to do,’’ O’Neill said in 1998. “I just didn’t stay for the parade.’’
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Comments » 44
GreerVol22 writes:
my grandfather said never look back, cause you never know what might be gaining on you.
Volunatic writes:
To this day, KNS still can't give Jerry Green credit for his success-- instead crediting his predecessor who had only one winning season?!
Pathetic.
Vincent Yarbrough was a Jerry Green recruit. Marcus Haislip was a Jerry Green recruit. They both made it to the NBA.
Jerry Green took a team of losers and IMMEDIATELY turned them into winners, winning 20 games in his first season and returning the Vols to the NCAA tournament for the first time in YEARS.
Yes, he had his faults, but his record (20+ wins and NCAA tourney appearances all four seassons he was here) proves that he was a good coach. (Jerry's downfall was not kicking one of O'Neill's recruits off the team-- Tony "I tattoo'ed my name on my arm" Harris.)
Granted, I like the coach UT has now a LOT more, but I did like seeing the Vols return to national relevance under Jerry Green.
DaVols writes:
Green Made Boosters turn green and not the green of cash! It is still about the money!
MoVol writes:
God, I remember that 45-35 game---the ugliest basketball game I have ever seen.
cliffjumper50#205931 writes:
Don Devoe is my man. He came in here following Cliff Wettig and his interim staff and took the leftovers to the NCAA. Let's see, didn't his team beat UK 3 times that year? The knock on Don was his recruiting difficulties but he did pull in a few good ones. Dale Ellis, who set an NBA record for 3 point shots. Tony White was another one who could shoot it out. Don took his Vols as far as anyone else has. He had Virginia and 7 foot 4 big man, Ralph Sampson, on the ropes till a guard named Lamp lit it up like he never had before. When the Gators needed someone to bail them out. They called on Don! A tip of the hat to a fine man and a quality coach. Oh yeah, thanks for pushing for an arena to match Rupp.
BillsBrother writes:
Gee Spam. Green could coach the talent, but he directly benefited from the relentless recruiting of O'Neill.
Vincent Yarbrough signed with TN while Kevin O'Neill was coach. Green got to "recruit" Yarbrough by saying you can play for me next season or you can sit out a year and play somewhere else. Green did not sign Yarbrough. He kept him from leaving.
dvols writes:
i can still hear the squeaking sneakers echoeing around the gym,
BillsBrother writes:
Or was that Tony Harris I am thinking of? My how the years pass by and the memories fade away...
Volunatic writes:
No, you're wrong about Yarbrough. You may be suffering from the same revisionist history bug that the KNS writers clearly have.
Jerry Green recruited him, not O'Neill. That's why Vincent played in Green's SECOND through FOURTH seasons, and in Buzz Peterson's first season. Check your facts.
hodocka writes:
I never will forget one night during the listener call-in show O'Neil had after games, a person seriously suggested that he hire an offensive coordinator.
MidTennVol writes:
Mike, WHO in the HECK is your assignment editors at the KNS? Is this the best you guys can do? Running some kind of retrospective on Kevin O'Neill's tenure as basketball coach?
I dropped straight down here to ask these questions, just from the headline. I refuse to read the story on general principles.
We are in the preseason of a great, young, athletic team loaded with talent, coached by the most effective and most admired coach since Ray Mears, and you guys want to take us back to pick a scab?? For the purpose of....?
Here are some suggestions for features, off the top of my head...
An analysis of our half-court offense, strengths and weaknesses
The most effective rotation, in your judgement, at this early point on the season
Who's riding the pine? What about the guys who are not in the rotation? What is going through Jurick's head these days? How does he match up in practice against Chism and Williams?
How does Williams match up in practice against Chism?
Who wins the one-on-one contests in practice?
Take us into the weightroom. Who's developed the most thus far? Who has the most work to do? What are the routines?
How much does this team run outside of practice?
Take us into the film room -- how do BP and the team analyze film?
There. A week's worth of stories I'd like to see pursued as a fan.
What are you people smoking at the KNS? Is Adams responsible for this?
There is a time and place for retrospectives like the above: it's called the OFF-SEASON. Or SUMMER, when the news about UT athletics is anemic.
Have a clue, KNS. Your writers have too much talent to waste on tripe/nonsense like the above.
TommyJack writes:
Don DeVoe was a terrific game-day coach. Not a prolific recruiter, but the man could manage a game.
weisgarber2003#313889 writes:
"cliffjumper50#205931 writes:
Don Devoe is my man. He came in here following Cliff Wettig and his interim staff and took the leftovers to the NCAA. Let's see, didn't his team beat UK 3 times that year? The knock on Don was his recruiting difficulties but he did pull in a few good ones. Dale Ellis, who set an NBA record for 3 point shots. Tony White was another one who could shoot it out. Don took his Vols as far as anyone else has. He had Virginia and 7 foot 4 big man, Ralph Sampson, on the ropes till a guard named Lamp lit it up like he never had before. When the Gators needed someone to bail them out. They called on Don! A tip of the hat to a fine man and a quality coach. Oh yeah, thanks for pushing for an arena to match Rupp."
Devoe was and is a decent man, but a basketball coach he was not, at least not a good one. He couldn't recruit in quantity, and he didn't take the Vols as far as anyone else has. Even Green was vastly superior to Devoe. Check out Devoe's SEC record and I believe it will show only one winning season in conference play in his last seven years. Hardly competitive basketball.
Ironcity writes:
You are wrong very wrong. Yarbrough was a junior when Green started. Green could coach, its just that people didn't like his style. I for one did. We were the most physical and the toughest team in the country and we bordered on being dirty (and sometimes went over that line). Torri Cook, CJ Black and Hathaway just hammered anyone who dared to venture down the lane. If you were going to dunk on UT expect to take a shot to the head. Teams hated UT and they hated to play us. The problem for Green was people in Knoxville just didn't like that style of play nor did they like the players and Green had a problem with that.
cliffjumper50#205931 writes:
Reggie Johnson, Kevin Nash of the World Wrestling Extravaganza. Don and Kevin went toe to toe and guess who won? Both did. Don had some very good teams but he let the AE man go to Ole Miss.
cliffjumper50#205931 writes:
No no my friend, the sweet sixteen is where Don took us and we have never been further. Regionals at the Omni in 1982 I believe it was and no other coach has taken us to the elite eight so far.
BillVol writes:
The rebirth of UT basketball did not start with Bruce Pearl; it started with Kevin O'Neill. O'Neill is the best recruiter UT has ever had. During the worst period in UT basketball history, he landed Charles Hathaway, CJ Black, Tony Harris, Isiah Victor... I have fond memories of the O'Neill years.
govols22231 writes:
I agree. I think before the three point line and the shot clock he was as good a coach as anyone. Plus playing in Stokley, I always felt we had a chance to beat anyone anytime.There was just something about Stokley.....
TommyJack writes:
What might have been. A union between Kevin O'Neill and Carol Peterson. Imagine the quotes.
cliffjumper50#205931 writes:
There is only ONE general out of this pack of currs!
carpentermike5#409005 writes:
Who F'ing cares... thats the past.. i understand the article was about past, but my god.. Tennessee fans live in the past too much. Which is exactly what took so long for people to realise the football program has been on a huge downslide for years, not just one or two bad years. For god sakes all people talk about is 98 natl champs.. yes it was awesome, but lets get our next one!
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Before the shot clock, Don Defoe was a master coach..he worked the clock like a master...I think the shot clock was put in when it was because of Devoe and the deliberate play of the Vols. Devoe remains the only coach to ever beat Kentucky three times in one season.
cliffjumper50#205931 writes:
Tell it Brother. THREE times in one year. Oh yeah. Eat that with your catnip my blue friends.
eduardo writes:
Uncle Jed???Quality coach???The guy who tried to give this man any credit should have his head examined. Jerry Green could not come close to being compared to Kevin O'Neil. If O'Neil would have stayed UT would have been hanging multiple banners in the rafters for Final 4 appearances, if not a national championship. Uncle Jed quality coach, give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
murrayvol writes:
They usually come back at odd times when you don't really need them.
murrayvol writes:
Alas, the shot clock was his mortal enemy.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Wow, the memories.
I must be getting old because I was at UT during the Devoe years and went to Ballard High in Louisville with Lamp (Jeff) and two other guys that started on that Virgina team along side Sampson (Lee Raker & Terry Gates)
In fact, Ballard finished ranked #1 in the first ever USA Today high school backetball poll (I believe it was the paper's first year-1977) That team was incredible.
I know times have changed with the Oak Hill Academy type teams and with high school recruiting, but back in those days, there weren't too many better high school teams. Other players on that team were Jerry Eaves (starting point guard on Louisville's 1980 championship team), Al Miller (Vandy) Jimmy Lenz (Vandy)
For those trying to pinpoint Ballard, it's the same high school where Allan Houston came from.
CoverOrange writes:
I remember Bernard launching from the free throw line getting the bucket and the foul. I remember 6-7 Dale Ellis playing like 6-10. I remember Charles Barkley and Chuck Person schooling DeVoe with baseline layups in Stokely. I remember Fred Jenkins behind the head passes. I remember 6-11 goggle-eyed Doug Roth shooting 3s from the top of the key. I remember Allan Houston playing on the court like he was the only one out there. I remember Kevin ONeil losing badly. I remember North Carolina coming back from 20 down to end an elite 8 dream and beginning the end of Jerry. I remember Chris Lofton's heave on the run to win the Pearl's first NCAA tourney game. I remember Ramar trying desperately to get off a shot to beat Ohio State, twice.
In the end, memories is all you have and thus all that it really is about.
eduardo writes:
Dont forget Al Wilson coached the '98 team to a National Championship!!!!!!!!!!!
volsmith writes:
Kevin O'Neill was the worst coach we've ever had. I can't forget about him running off Ed Gray, who led the team in scoring as a freshman and later played for the Atlanta Hawks for a year or two. The players I read quotes from in the papers at the time all said he was a lousy coach. I remember listening to an Arkansas-Tennessee game one year and the score got to be about 30 to 1 before we actually scored a field goal.
The Jerry Green haters always want to give O'Neill credit for Green's success. Maybe some day you will be able to convince people that a 36-47-0 coach is better than an 89-36-0 coach, who won 20 games or more every year, but I'm not buying that baloney.
GR82BAVOL writes:
When I heard that O'Neill was taking over for Lute Olsen for a while last season, I about fell outta my chair laughing...talk about a leap of faith. He was in the right place at the right time eh?
dlobh writes:
You're an idiot. Take your Manning hatred to the Bama web site or somewhere else.
volnc2316 writes:
Wasn't O'Neill the one who said that running through the T was "hokie"?
ect1983 writes:
I thought the story was a helluva lot better than your dumb%$ post
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
My grandfather said to put your money in the offering plate and cuss the preacher on the way out!
ncvol writes:
This year celebrates the centennial season of men's basketball at Tennessee. The News Sentinel continues its series looking into the players, teams and events that have molded an exciting history.
The statement above should explain why they put this article on here. They are just taking us down memory lane and I, for one, enjoy it. Go Vols!
rthestar#368358 writes:
your revisions of history give you the qualifications to assist DUBYA over theses last few days.
I met green on a trip to europe before he ever coached one game. I told the trip folks and even more so when we returned that this guy would never succeed. he had NO PASSION or personality. YARBROUGH and haislip were TN guys only because of o'neill and BTW if he had stayed we probably would have gotten both shawn marion & mike miller--O'neill had a verbal commitment from both and it was miller who gave credit to o'neill for finding him out in the boonies.. just the facts folks
BigOrangeVol writes:
My Grandfather always said that, "You can pull a dog out of a ditch and he'll be your best friend for life. You can pull a man out of a ditch and he'll stab you in the back the first chance he gets."
donniedem writes:
I remember when coach Oneal announced he was leaving UT. I believe coach Summitt and coach Fulmer were asked by the administration to talk to coach Oneal into changing his mind. I was really glad when he left. Tennessee basketball was so bad offensively. It is embarrassing to remember even today.
donniedem writes:
O'Neill
orangesox writes:
I agree with you to a point. Being able to play shutdown D is vital, but if you hold your opponent to 45 points, there's no way you shouldn't win that game by at least a dozen.
mloaks#222092 writes:
spam247buster#467309; well put.
Oneal and Green were great!
sampears writes:
HAHAhahahahah are you serious?...lol
chad_t31 writes:
Someone needs some spiked egg nog.
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