Jim Calhoun Retires After 26 Years at UConn

Jim Calhoun’s legendary career as a head coach at UConn came to an end today when he announced his retirement from the game at a press conference on campus. In his 26 years with the Huskies program, Calhoun led the school to three National Championships and saw over 30 of his players reach the pros. It will be very interesting to see where the program goes from here following his departure, and whether committed recruits and/or current players decide to stay. From the USA Today: “During a nationally televised news conference at Gampel Pavilion, Calhoun, who concluded a 40-year college head coaching career, reflected on an improbable era at UConn in which he built the program into an unlikely national power. “We were going to have something to say about the future of basketball in the Big East,” Calhoun said. “The first step is to believe you can be special. â?¦ I have been blessed with so many people who believed in that dream. This could only have been accomplished with a collective effort. That’s the story of UConn.” Calhoun, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, suffered a fractured hip while bike riding on Aug. 4 but said the injury did not factor into his decision to retire. Calhoun will get his wish in seeing his assistant and former UConn player Kevin Ollie succeed him as head coach this season. Ollie will have a one-year contract. Calhoun, 70, will serve as special assistant to Athletic Director Warde Manuel, providing services in support of men’s basketball, the UConn Health Center, athletics and the university. The agreement runs until March21, 2013.”