Personally, I think the coach is partly responsible for the kid graduating, but mainly it's on the kid. At some point these kids have to stop being spoon fed, and get their acts together.
I think the freshman year the coach, along with the upperclassmen should emphasize the importance of education, and then it's time to let those kids fend for themselves. Afterall college is about becoming an adult, and after your freshman year, you should be acclimated enough to campus life, that you know what to do. I'm not saying the coach should close his doors, but these student athletes should know better.
In Nolan's defense, a lot of kids that are going to the larger schools, aren't interested in going to college for basketball anyway. I'd be interested to see how many of those kids left Arkansas early. It's a nationwide trend, if you get a kid to go to college to play ball, instead of opting for the NBA straight out of high school, how many actually stay until they're seniors?
Hell, the NBA is all but encouraging kids to skip college, they had an 18 year old be the number 1 pick overall, with 2 others picked in the top 5. Then if you're one of those kids that elects not to go to college, but don't get drafted, they've created the NBDL.
There, they don't have to worry about becoming academically eligible, they don't have to worry about going to class, and maintaining grades, and they draw a paycheck, something they won't legally get in school.
Who needs college, when the NBA makes is so easy for you to think you don't?
NICE