Jama Sharp Follows TT to Virginia

Discussion in 'Women’s Basketball' started by justabbfan, Jun 5, 2018.

  1. justabbfan

    justabbfan 250+ Posts

  2. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Dang, I am sorry to see her go. She was always pleasant and easy to talk to about our Horns. While the title remains the same, it looks like she will have more responsibility there.

    Lots of luck, Jama!
     
  3. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    Too bad for us Nneka just got a bump going from Gonzaga’s video coordinator to assistant coach at UCSB. Between her and Tiff doing rebound drills, look out.
     
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  4. breckenj05

    breckenj05 100+ Posts

    Fran Harris has also resigned her position with UTWBB and she is also going to join Tina and Jama at UVA.
     
  5. hoopsalot

    hoopsalot 500+ Posts

    What position will Harris have at Virginia?
     
  6. breckenj05

    breckenj05 100+ Posts

    Fran said it would be a position very similar to the one she held at UT suited to fit her skill set, and leading an attendance initiative like she also did with UT.
     
  7. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    Fran’s departure is definitely more surprising (almost troubling) than Jama’s considering Fran’s ties to UT.
     
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  8. JoeDallas

    JoeDallas 1,000+ Posts

    Lots of intrigue here. I agree, DFW Horn, it does make one a little uneasy about what might be going on internally. Hopefully, nothing in particular.
     
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  9. LutherIsMyDog

    LutherIsMyDog 1,000+ Posts

    On the positive side, Fran's departure opens the door to hiring someone with new ideas and a fresh approach. It can be a win-win for both parties.
     
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  10. utfannforlife

    utfannforlife 1,000+ Posts

    We should probably take another look at Emily Johnson. I believe she was working in a video capacity with the team at one point but took a position with the UT Football program. Might be a great time to bring her back into the program.
     
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  11. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    She got a job with The Players’ Tribune a few months ago.
     
  12. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    People leave for all kinds of reasons. It doesn't mean anything is going on at their place of employment other than they saw a better opportunity (salary wise, career advancement, location, a new challenge, etc.). That happens everywhere. While I wish most would stay (I tend to want people I get along with to stay), I realize that most are looking to advance their career and taking advantage of opportunities is a smart choice.

    I will miss Jama more than I will Fran simply because I interacted more with Jama than I did with Fran. But I wish both the best in their new jobs. :hookem2:
     
  13. jusme828

    jusme828 2,500+ Posts

    So, this has me thinking about Brianna Taylor. She was listed on the University of Nebraska Omaha women's basketball coaching website last season as Director of Basketball Operations. They have their coaches listed for the upcoming season and someone else has that position. From her tweets lately, she's been back in Austin. I wouldn't be surprised to see her hired as the video coordinator.
    Just a guess.
     
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  14. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    This is no place for rational, thoughtful points of view - this is an internet message board. Everything is either its very best/worst, soon to be that way or blaming the conspirators who caused the focus of the discussion to collapse.;)
     
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  15. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    I loved listening to Fran on the radio doing color commentary for some of our games, but if she was responsible for increasing attendance, I don't think she did very well at all.

    I recall when she was hired by Coach A. It didn't seem like she was replacing anyone, but instead a new position was being created for her. I could be wrong. Now that Chris Del Conte is reducing the number of employees in the athletic department, perhaps some jobs (titles & responsibilities) are being combined as are the men's and women's athletic departments. We'll know more if no one is actually hired to replace Fran's spot.
     
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  16. breckenj05

    breckenj05 100+ Posts

    Fran did announce she was leaving Texas a few days before she let us know that she was going to UVA. Her position at UT was created especially for her as will her position at Virginia. However, Fran did emphasize that nothing was wrong and there was no bad feelings on either side, she said she just felt it was time for her to move on. But I don't know if her conversation with Tina started before she resigned or after. Fran did say Tina asked her what it would take for her to leave UT, so that makes me think it was a planned move. I don't think there is any reason to worry. Even though Fran has strong ties to UT, don't forget that her and Tina were teammates on the 1997 Comets Team that won the first WNBA championship, so they have some history together too. :smile1::bevo:
     
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  17. DINO22

    DINO22 1,000+ Posts

    Very Surprised by this.
     
  18. Hornzupp

    Hornzupp 25+ Posts

    Hmmmm...interesting take. Very surprised by this departure given Fran's deep ties with Texas. Don't think it was Fran's actual responsibility to increase attendance as she was not in the marketing or sales department at UT. But I did read something about attendance in an article in the Statesperson once that said she was helping to rejuvenate (sp) wbb fan engagement. Either way, sorry to see her go. Class act.
     
  19. LutherIsMyDog

    LutherIsMyDog 1,000+ Posts

    This very well may be the reason that Jama and Fran are following TT to the University of Virginia. CDC is currently streamlining the department and getting rid of redundancies. As you mention, time will tell as we will see if they are replaced.
     
  20. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a small designated group to handle community engagement for all teams (part of Fran’s job for WBB) but it would be a shock if the video coordinator role was eliminated. I would think that position requires in-depth, sport specific knowledge.
     
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  21. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    Well, the cost of living is a lot higher in Virginia than in Texas. So, hopefully, their new salaries take that into consideration. I didn't think Video Coordinators earned a lot, but maybe things have changed.

    For Fran, assuming this was completely her choice, it's very surprising to me as she has seemed to always be connected to the program (even when not employed by Texas), and seemed to me that she was one of the former Longhorns who represented (or spoke for) the alumni in certain capacities.

    I do know that Fran's nephew is a rising-senior hoopster at South Garland (state semi-finalist last season); and, he was not offered a scholarship by Shaka Smart. He committed to Texas A&M a few months ago. So, Fran won't get to see him play in person very often all the way out in Virginia.
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2018
  22. JoeDallas

    JoeDallas 1,000+ Posts

    I don't blame anybody for moving to Charlottesville, Va. It is a beautiful place, a quick drive to D.C., near the Shenandoah Mountains, etc. I like Tina and suspect she will be a great coach. Still, there's something that doesn't feel great about her talking our staff into leaving. It is well publicized that Tina hadn't even thought about college coaching, and that Karen Aston worked hard to get her on the staff. Maybe Karen is cool with it all and this is an acceptable way of operating in college sports. In a lot of work settings, this would be considered bad form, especially after just 3 years. But maybe everyone is fine with it. I don't want to make judgments when I don't know what's really going on internally.
     
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  23. BabHorn

    BabHorn 10,000+ Posts

    My thoughts exactly about Jama's position. Fran's position could be absorbed by a athletic department refocus on improving attendance. Although I wonder if the Ambassador program Fran headed will continue. Jama's position at Virginia actually sounds like she will be responsible for more than she was at Texas, that is more than just video as she will also be in charge of compiling lists of recruits and making electronic contact with potential recruits (email, IG, Twitter, FB, etc.) about anything the WBB dept. wants to bring to their attention (camps, big games, etc.). I would guess a significant increase in pay as well as responsibility for her.

    Travis Mays did the same thing when he left for SMU. Neither Tina nor Travis pouched coaches, just supporting staff.
     
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  24. utfannforlife

    utfannforlife 1,000+ Posts

    I think a lot of what is lost in transition and "poaching" is the ppl aspect. If Jama and Fran (or any other coaches) were presented with a step up or a better opportunity at an equally impressive power 5 move I hate to call that bad form. Tina is trying to win and its a credit to KA that she thinks bringing some of her staff along will help her to that end.
     
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  25. racerx5908

    racerx5908 2,500+ Posts

    Well, she's back....but not where some had thought!
     
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  26. Karen

    Karen 25+ Posts

    It looks like a marketing position. It will be nice to have her back at Texas in any role.
     
  27. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    Jama is leaving Virginia after 1 season as an assistant coach. Tina Thompson hired 2 new assistants today including Monica Wright. No indication if she left for another job but the UVa press release sure didn’t give that impression:

    “Pitts and Wright will be filling vacancies on the coaching staff left by the departures of La’Keshia Frett Meredith and Jama Sharp, who will not be returning for the 2019-20 season.”

    Random bit of Longhorn-related trivia: Monica Wright is the former fiancé of Longhorn Kevin Durant and, like Durant, was the 2nd overall pick in the draft.
     
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  28. justabbfan

    justabbfan 250+ Posts

    I believe Meridith was a hold over from the previous coaching staff. Surprised Jama is gone after only one year. Wonder if Fran Harris is still there?
     
  29. Moooooo

    Moooooo 5,000+ Posts

    So, did we ever replace Jama and/or Fran?
     
  30. DFW_Horn

    DFW_Horn 2,500+ Posts

    Kelby Jones went from grad assistant to video coordinator (Jama) and I’d guess Alan Major took over the player development duties Fran had but not the fan engagement activities.
     
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