Surprise! UConn has finally filled the vacancy on coach Kevin Ollie’s bench with Temple assistant coach Dwayne Killings. The news was first reported (amazingly) by something named Gilly Post, and later confirmed by Jon Rothstein.
Current UConn director of basketball operations Kevin Freeman was the presumed favorite to inherit the position left by Karl Hobbs, when he bolted to Rutgers earlier in the offseason. It’s unknown what Freeman’s next course of action may be.
What is certain is that Ollie will add an assistant widely respected in recruiting circles and earning a reputation as an up-and-coming young coach. Killings is credited in part for Temple’s success this past season that resulted in a regular season conference title, and a coach of the year award for his boss, Fran Dunphy.
Killings served as Temple’s assistant DOBO for several years before taking an assistant coaching job at Boston University. That lasted for one season until a position opened on the Temple bench in 2011.
A Massachusetts native, Killings is familiar with New England basketball, a positive for UConn as they chase the region’s top prep school players. Killings played college ball close to home at UMass — where he attempted two field goals in two seasons (he made one) — before finishing his degree at Hampton. His resume also includes a brief stint in player development of the formerly-named Charlotte Bobcats. One of the points of pride listed in Killings’ Temple biography is his role in the development of UConn great Emeka Okafor.
We’ll have more on Killings, and any corresponding moves within the UConn athletic department, in the coming days.
