Pennell Fired?

BearCountry · **Joined:** Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:13 pm **Posts:** 5426

Looks official.

https://hoopdirt.com/hot-central-arkansas-parts-ways-with-pennell/

joshuca · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2019 2:54 pm

WOW! Something needed to be done, I just didn't think it would happen mid-season. He was a great guy, but there just wasn't much progress on the court...especially without a superstar player like Howard.

huggy_bear · **Joined:** Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:50 am **Posts:** 532

the basketball program basically has started from scratch twice since the jump to D1 and we may have to do it again. I think there's a lot of talent on the roster, but the team looks lost on defensive side of the ball. Need a good hire...we've been lost in the wilderness for 15 years

BearCountry · **Joined:** Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:13 pm **Posts:** 5426

Now I’m hearing he is not fired. Huh. Strange. What’s up with this?

VolleyBear · **Joined:** Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:53 am **Posts:** 450

PENNELL TO TAKE LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Interesting situation. Not sure how an indefinite leave of absence keeps the program moving in the right direction. Hope it works out for all involved.

joshuca · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2019 6:24 pm

I’m sure it is all semantics. A L of A probably allows him more options for future employment or other position within the university.

joshuca · **Posted:** Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:09 am

Taking time off: After 1-9 start, Pennell on leave of absence

Quote:

UCA Athletic Director Brad Teague told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Monday that Pennell informed him Friday he wished to take a leave of absence. Pennell did not coach in UCA's 92-79 loss to Pepperdine on Saturday night in Malibu, Calif. It was the first game Pennell has missed this season.

Teague was unsure if Pennell will be back this season.

Earlier Monday, Jeff Goodman, a prominent college basketball insider for Stadium, reported that UCA had parted ways with Pennell. Teague later informed the Democrat-Gazette that report was not true and that Pennell was still with UCA but taking a leave of absence. In a text to the Democrat-Gazette on Monday, Pennell also said he had not been dismissed from the program.

huggy_bear · **Joined:** Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:50 am **Posts:** 532

Bizzarre and ultimately just sad. Hope pennell is ok physically but he’s probably in bad shape from a mental perspective.

This program is a straight up dumpster fire

FOOT84 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 22, 2019 8:32 am

huggy_bear wrote:

Bizzarre and ultimately just sad. Hope pennell is ok physically but he’s probably in bad shape from a mental perspective.

This program is a straight up dumpster fire

Yep... but not as bad as uaf football

xbear83 · **Joined:** Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:48 pm **Posts:** 544

FOOT84 wrote:

huggy_bear wrote:

Bizzarre and ultimately just sad. Hope pennell is ok physically but he’s probably in bad shape from a mental perspective.

This program is a straight up dumpster fire

Yep... but not as bad as uaf football

Mulerider · **Joined:** Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:31 pm **Posts:** 481

FOOT84 wrote:

huggy_bear wrote:

Bizzarre and ultimately just sad. Hope pennell is ok physically but he’s probably in bad shape from a mental perspective.

This program is a straight up dumpster fire

Yep... but not as bad as uaf football

I don't know... UCA Basketball is pretty bad. Facilities seem to be at the lower end of the conference. It's also strange of the recruits we get. I would think we would go after more Junior College players than we have been. Sorry to admit it, but the Prince Center needs some updates pretty bad. Can't blame this all on coaching. Even Williams couldn't do much before heading to the Kings. Welcome to D1 Bears. Step up now. As for the rest of the season. GOOO BEARS! Lets show them up in conference.

huggy_bear · **Joined:** Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:50 am **Posts:** 532

Corliss was the worst coach in the history of Arkansas basketball. It’s completely inexcusable to have the program that far below APR standards while he was there for FOUR years.

At least Pennell has some organizational abilities. His teams just don’t play defense

huggy_bear · **Joined:** Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:50 am **Posts:** 532

100% agree on the facilities. 0 atmosphere and way to large and clunky. It’s probably way to expensive to demo and rebuild but somethings got to be done. I don’t see how you can recruit to that building

VolleyBear · **Joined:** Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:53 am **Posts:** 450

huggy_bear wrote:

100% agree on the facilities. 0 atmosphere and way to large and clunky. It’s probably way to expensive to demo and rebuild but somethings got to be done. I don’t see how you can recruit to that building

I read a comment on here a long while back about the Farris Center being a graduation venue that doubled as a basketball court (paraphrasing, since I can't remember the exact line). Unfortunately, I think that description is spot-on.

From the dingy lighting to the poor concessions to the almost unintelligible sound system, there are lots of things to fix. It's not a bad facility, just needs some well thought-out renovation.

JRK · **Joined:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:32 pm **Posts:** 6128

I was at UCA when it was built and opened.....it was a multi-use facility for basketball, PE faculty, some coaches offices, swimming pool for PE classes (maybe even a swim team), graduation, even indoor training facility for track and cross country in severe weather (basically stretching, bleacher laps, line drills for sprints, etc) and at one time track and cross country dressing rooms after moving out of what is now The Prince Center.........…maybe baseball had some space also....while I do not recall sellouts for basketball, I also recall pretty big crowds for top games.....especially top AIC rivals....no doubt there are improvements needed for the fan experience.....however, until St Mary's (CA in D1 WAA, venue is combo b-ball and v-ball) says their "high school gym" that is often filled to the brim for men's games needs to be replaced to recruit (avg record last 7 years is 24-8 and avg attendance last season was 3001 with 6 SROs), then maybe that is an issue....get us to 4500+ plus fans at games and we can talk a new venue.....of course, if were getting 4500 per game the atmosphere would be awesome for the players....until then let's figure out what can be done to jazz the FC up....playing better defense would help the win/loss record....maybe recall to service Couch, Graham, Dickey, Johnson (TJ and Conny), Hutch, Blackwood, et al....

Mulerider...…..The Prince is the volleyball court...was the old basketball gym before about 1972.....Farris Center is the basketball venue since then....

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