Kevin Ollie Hired As Head Coach Of Overtime Elite

[RealGM Wiretap]

Kevin Ollie has been hired as head coach and director of player development for the Overtime Elite, a new professional basketball league for top prospects between the ages of 16 and 18.

"I'm ready to get back to what I was born to do: empowering and encouraging and supporting young people, and helping them grow," Ollie said in a statement. "There's no better place for me to do that than OTE, an extraordinary league for extraordinary young men. I consider it my mission to help these elite athletes realize their dreams."

Ollie played in the NBA and won a National Championship as head coach of UConn.

The OTE's plan is to offer six-figure financial packages and an academic tutoring component for high school players to compete against prep school and international teams in a year-round training program.

These players would lose college eligibility but be able to advance toward the G League and NBA draft in a more basketball-intensive environment.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

[Scalabrine]

I've met Ollie several times when he would go speak at the 76ers basketball camp back when I was a kid and he was still player. He's a great guy and he truly does have a passion for teaching and helping kids grow. I think this is a great hire for all involved.

[dc]

Everytime I think of Ollie, I think how he should've struck when the iron was hot and taken an NBA job after winning that National Title.

A couple subpar seasons later, that was it for his NBA HC prospects.

[Red8911]

This is the league that is needed for young players to develop and make the NBA. Forget college that is a waste of time for them.