The Daily Pennsylvanian :: M. Hoops

Harrison Gaines was second on the Quakers with 9.9 points per game, but he said that Glen Miller's coaching style was not the right fit.

Just one day after the men's basketball season ended, sophomore Harrison Gaines announced that he was transferring out of Penn at the end of the semester.

The guard from Victorville, Calif., averaged 9.9 points per game this year, second on the team to Tyler Bernardini's 13.7. However, he only started 10 of Penn's 28 games. Playing in all but two of the contests, Gaines averaged 23.0 minutes, good for third best on the squad.

Gaines was the third player this year to leave. Senior Tommy McMahon quit the program in December after an injury-plagued career, and fellow sophomore Remy Cofield also decided to transfer on Jan. 16.

To clarify his decision, Gaines sat down with The Daily Pennsylvanian for an exclusive interview.

Daily Pennsylvanian: When did you start thinking about leaving the program?

Harrison Gaines: I started thinking about it around December. I talked to my parents about it . I told myself that I wouldn't think about it too much. I'd put it in the back of my mind and continue to focus on winning games.

DP: Did it have anything to do with McMahon and Cofield leaving the team?

HG: No, it was a personal decision.

DP: What specifically made you decide to transfer?

HG: A lot of things came to a head . I felt like Glen Miller wasn't the coach for me. That was basically what it came down to.

I have big time love for my teammates. I loved playing for Penn . but Glen Miller, I just didn't feel like he was the coach for me. That kind of started it.

DP: What changed from the recruiting process to now?

HG: When you're [recruited], you're going to hear everyone's good side. When you're [on the team] you start to realize what you like and don't like about people. His coaching style just wasn't for me.

DP: When Miller brought in Zack Rosen to play the point guard position did it give you the inclination this might not work?

HG: No, if that was the case, I wouldn't have come back for my second year at all. Zack Rosen didn't have anything to do with it. I felt like with him coming in that could help our team.

DP: So were you happy with giving him the point-guard duties and you being more of the shooting guard?

HG: No, I liked handling the ball. I've handled the ball my whole career. But I'm a ball player. . I felt like put me anywhere on court and I can hoop.

DP: When and how did you tell Miller about your decision to leave?

HG: Wednesday morning the day after the Princeton game we met. . I told him that I felt like it'd be in my best interests to leave the program. . We had a brief conversation. He respected my wishes, and we parted ways.

I didn't want to do anything to upstage the seniors. The fact that the Cam Lewis, Brennan Votel and Kevin Egee were playing the last game of their careers, I didn't want to do anything to overshadow that. I waited for the season to end, so I gave [Miller] a call that morning.

DP: Have any other teammates expressed similar sentiments about Miller?

HG: Not that I know of. I figured the people that are still part of the program are still happy. I wish the best to them.

DP: Was there one specific thing about Miller that you didn't like?

HG: It was a number of things. Not just one moment where it hit me. It was stuff over time that built up to a point where I was ready to do this. It was a tough decision.

There was stuff happening at practice every day. I'll keep that between [me] and the team. You're with someone for so long, it's almost like a family. It just made me change my mind.

DP: Did you not like how he ran his offense?

HG: He switched up his offense. There was an offense he had when I originally started. I felt that both offenses didn't fit my personal style. But I found success in both of them.

DP: Was it tough having these thoughts in your head while you were playing?

HG: I just tried to focus on winning. That's the No. 1 goal for me as a player. Throughout the whole season, . I still kept my confidence, I still played in the gym . constantly working on my game. I knew that when an opportunity came I'd be ready to go. I just wanted to win an Ivy League title.

There were missed opportunities . we'd hear on the loudspeaker that Cornell was losing, and maybe we're a game and a half behind Cornell. But then we'd be losing. It was disappointing and frustrating.

DP: Where do you see yourself playing next year?

HG: I'm not sure yet; I won't know for a little bit. I'll weigh my options. I'll make sure this next decision is the right decision.

DP: How would you reflect back on your two years of playing for Penn?

HG: I enjoyed my two years here. . Penn's a pretty prestigious program. There's a lot of history. It's always great to play for a team like Penn. I enjoy the school, the social life. I've made a lot of friends, some I think will be life-long friends. So I don't regret my experience. I just think it's a building block for something else.

Senior Staff Writer Krista Hutz contributed reporting to this article.

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Comments (17)

......want to come back when he knows no one wants him there? He appears to always be negative and rude.....to his players and the press....I say "appears to" because I would like to think there is another side of him, but I just never hear it......

while I commend the DP for getting this interview, I cannot fathom why the reporter did not ask the question posed by one of the commenters above: "If there were to be a different coach before you leave school, Harrison, would you reconsider your decision?" That is the ONE question everyone wants to know the answer to. I hope the next few days see follow up articles with interviews of Miller reflecting on the Gaines quotes, or Bilsky (if you can find him, he's probably hiding out of shame right now), and why not try and sit down with some of the players who have "left" the program and have nothing to lose by being honest? Lewis, Votel, Egee, McMahon are all still on campus, yes? Talk to these folks to. The DP has a job to do and that is to expose whatever it is that is ailing the Penn basketball program. This piece was a nice start but keep the momementum going!

Any potential recruit has to be crazy to even consider coming to play for Miller. He can't even keep the ones who mistakenly came here in the first place. And if we see it, how much fun do you think the staffs at Columbia, Yale and the other Ivies are having with this? But apparently that's not a priority for Bilsky. Perhaps all of those people dressed as empty seats next year will open his eyes. That may be the only language he understands.

Miller isn't just a lame duck. He is the single most despised man on campus. Next season is going to get a little nasty. It is in the best interest of the present players and the program going forward for Miller to offer his resignation now. We can always throw some money at him just to get rid of him.

[QUOTE id="57013e24-d2b1-49ec-875d-59b922f8f7e9"]while I commend the DP for getting this interview, I cannot fathom why the reporter did not ask the question posed by one of the commenters above: "If there were to be a different coach before you leave school, Harrison, would you reconsider your decision?" That is the ONE question everyone wants to know the answer to. I hope the next few days see follow up articles with interviews of Miller reflecting on the Gaines quotes, or Bilsky (if you can find him, he's probably hiding out of shame right now), and why not try and sit down with some of the players who have "left" the program and have nothing to lose by being honest? Lewis, Votel, Egee, McMahon are all still on campus, yes? Talk to these folks to. The DP has a job to do and that is to expose whatever it is that is ailing the Penn basketball program. This piece was a nice start but keep the momementum going![/QUOTE] I second that idea. I think the Penn community wants to know how the players feel about Miller. Since the players are valued infinitely more than the coach, this is an important inquiry. Since after all, we con't know what the hell this guy Miller actually all about. And if he is more like a high school coach (who bullies and demeands the players) than a college coach, then he has to go.

There are always 2 sides to every story!! Has anybody given any thought that Gaines wanted to be the MAN, leading scorer and everything else? Coming from high school where he was the dominant player on his team, maybe playing second fiddle was hard for him.

If Harrison were disturbed at playing second fiddle it would have come out in the interview. He was tossed a lob about Zack Rosen getting ball handling resposibilities and his being relegated to the two guard spot, but he didn't bite. No.....I don't think that's the source of the problem.

Don't get your hopes up that Bilsky will pull the plug on Miller. He still hasn't addressed the situation with Fred Honebein, the incompetent Men's Heavyweight Crew coach. Looking forward to another SLOW season this Spring. Good job Bilsky!

I'd be interested in a job in Philly.....the ACC thing was a bit rough. The Ivy League seems so much kinder and gentler..... apparently one does not need to do a particularly good job or win as long as your shirt looks crisp and you don't take off your jacket during the games....and you don't have to talk to the press, or to fans, or alumni, or even the players.....please, hire me!

[QUOTE id="e6f52a2b-be90-468e-9d5f-3cdb89290eee"]There are always 2 sides to every story!! Has anybody given any thought that Gaines wanted to be the MAN, leading scorer and everything else? Coming from high school where he was the dominant player on his team, maybe playing second fiddle was hard for him.[/QUOTE] Steve, is that you? Aren't there better things for you to be doing than posting comments to a DP story? There may be 8 sides to this story, but it is quite obvious what the number 1 side is, and it's coming from a lot more sources than just Harrison Gaines.

The University has a responsibility to its returning players (what is left of them) to provide, not a coach who can win, but a coach who can teach, inspire, and represent the university well both internally and to an outside audience. To his credit, Dunphy was all of these things AND he won. Glen Miller is like the Bizarro Dunphy: an aloof bully who loses games and lost people's respect. This really doesn't need to be about sports, though. It is about values. Does Glen Miller reflect Penn's values and is he a good ambassador for the University? I argue the answer is no. I realize that eating a contract may not be the most palatable thing to do during these financially austere times, but we can send a message to our students. We will sacrifice some money to regain our character as a winner on the court, but more importantly off of it.

You all have comments about something you only know 1 thing about...keep in mind todays kids and I mean kids wallow in self pity when things do not go their way...and that includes when people ask them to work harder than they have ever worked or play a role on a team (oh Yeah team sport) that they are not the super star...so pack your bags gains and head to the next school and oh by the way it will probably not be much better due to the fact the problem might just be you...

[QUOTE id="0e9f9700-01c6-4eee-86df-ad68ecfb1ea5"]You all have comments about something you only know 1 thing about...keep in mind todays kids and I mean kids wallow in self pity when things do not go their way...and that includes when people ask them to work harder than they have ever worked or play a role on a team (oh Yeah team sport) that they are not the super star...so pack your bags gains and head to the next school and oh by the way it will probably not be much better due to the fact the problem might just be you...[/QUOTE] Michelle -- Are you perhaps married to Coach Miller? There is no I in team, but there is an E, as there is in Gaines....spelling is not an art...

.......one positive thing has been said about Miller ANYWHERE. What the heck is going on? He won't be able to recruit a soul. Bilsky could gain SOME respect if Millers contract is eaten and someone is brought in who can win games AND get respect at the same time. If Miller stays it is a bad reflection on Bilsky, the athletic department and Penn in general. It is just so sad......

Harrison Gaines is a poised well spoken young man, a fine exemplar for Penn and the historic basketball program. A lesser man would have taken more pot shots at his inept coach. I wonder if the DP can get Miller to comment with as much poise and restraint? I'd bet he'd blame the lack of senior leadership again.....Steve Bilsky...are you listening?

Hm, I'd say it's time to hand Miller a pretty pink slip...

Harrison, Will you return if Miller is fired? If the answer is "yes," then I see a few people who should be losing their jobs right now.

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