The Jim Calhoun Era had to come to an end one day … looks like this is the day … The Hall of Fame coach who put UConn basketball on the map has provided plenty of memorable moments … Here’s your chance to give us the ONE moment that stands out the most … think big, think small … No Nation follows more closely than Husky Nation … Maybe a game [1999 beating Duke] … maybe a moment [Not a dime back!] … maybe something that just you witnessed – just you and Jim … We’ve got 26 years here … give us your one moment! Not every day you get a chance to bid farewell with a memory to a Hall of Fame coach! Put your post here and weigh in and join the discussion!
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125 Responses to Give Us Your Thoughts: What Is Your FAVORITE Jim Calhoun Moment
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My most favorite season was the 1999 national championship season!!!
I hate to start off with a negative memory, but the single Jim Calhoun episode I remember most was from the on-campus celebration after the Huskies beat Duke for the national championship. Calhoun said something about having gone to the Final Four and “kicked a**.” Immediately after the championship game, Duke’s Coach K had said, “I coach for relationships, not wins.” Big, BIG difference there in terms of class. There are other episodes of Calhoun’s classlessness, but, for me, that’s the most telling. And that’s a shame, because he gets a lot out of his players and they play exciting basketball.
Let’s see: In 1999 Coach Calhoun and UConn beat heavily favored Duke, a perennial national basketball power, and Coach K, already with two NCAA championship victories under his belt, after years of talk that Calhoun & UConn weren’t quite good enough to make the Final Four much less make the championship game. And you think it’s fair to take him to task for using colorful language after finally proved to himself and everyone else that he had what was required to build an elite program?
Coach K is a bit more astute at managing his public image, but he’s every bit as good at using colorful language when it suits his purposes (Google is your friend). And he wants to win every bit as much as Jim Calhoun or any other top coach in the game.
Sure, we’d like our coaches to be saints, but they’re just people like us. And for the record, Coach Calhoun is on record many, many times as having said that he values the relationship he has with his players, and takes great pride in developing them as people and as potential future pros.
Frankly, I wonder if anyone other than the brash guy from Braintree with a big chip on his shoulder could have willed UConn from the Big East basement to national prominence.
Marsha, you are a moron. Coach K whines every time things don’t go his way. What does what Calhoun said have to do wih Coach K in any way? Or how does it relate to coach K’s quote? It’s ridiculous that you would even use that. And worse you don’t even get the quote right. Calhoun paid a lot of praise to Duke after that win.
You take one quote that you don’t even remember correctly, take it out of context, and that is what you use to sum up a man who spent 26 years coaching this program? That is the definition of stupidity.
Marsha please do not ever post again. Your comments are so ignorant and biased it isn’t even funny. And since I can pretty much assume your a graduate of Duke, please go back to North Carolina.
I’ll post whenever I please. And just so you know, I graduated from college in Massachusetts, and followed Jim Calhoun when he was at Northeastern. I’m familiar with his coaching.
Name-calling is a poor basis for discussion.
Chris, your name-calling really doesn’t add to the discussion.
Marsha- your ridiculous comments add less to the conversation. Make an accurate post and I wont call you out on it.
hey Marsha what is up with that Duke player buying gold in NYC when he was a player and not paying the 70k in credit line they gave him on top of that? how did he get that 30K??? Duck s*cks
hey Marsha what is up with that Duke player buying gold in NYC when he was a player and not paying the 70k in credit line they gave him on top of that? how did he get that 30K??? Duck s*cks— if only Coach K was such a better teacher to this kid and relationship guy….BULL KRAP!!!!
someone delete this comment.
Hey Marsha: With your post, on a day of tributes, your about as classless as they come.
Paul, were you that nerd in the como class at UConn?
Como? Perry?
Coach K is a classy guy?
Why is he known as “Coach F” in the ACC?
Becasue every other word he screams at the refs all game starts with the letter “F”.
Classy guy, right!
“We broke some hearts, and kicked some ass.”
Calhoun, upon return from beating Duke in the 1999 National Championship game.
Correction – the exact quote is:
“Yesterday, we kicked some ass and broke some hearts.”
My favorite Calhoun moment is this one right here..he is out. Welcome Kevin Ollie, a gentleman!
When Ollie wins his third national championship, you get to post something this stupid.
I really don’t think that quote can serve as a legitimate point in comparing the class of Calhoun and Coach K. After all, he did just win the program’s first NCAA championship. Calhoun cared a hell of a lot about building relationships and bettering the lives of these kids. is one of my favorite Jim Calhoun stories and serves as a good example of this. Calhoun never seemed too happy about being a public figure, but classless? Absolutely not.
Really botched that quote tag…
The forecast said it was to be a very snowy night, in the winter of 1999. Not the best night for Jim Calhoun to have a book signing at Manchester, CT Walmart. The storm seemed to let up, after dinner, so I decided to go and meet the coach that defeated Duke for the national championship. In the store they had planned for a huge crowd. The signs directed me around the outside aisle of the store. At each turn I expected to see the end of the line. Turn after turn, there was no line. I started to think that the book signing might have been cancelled. As i turned the last corner, I saw Coach Calhoun sitting at a table with only a couple people at the table. I was able to chat with him for more time than I had imagined I would have. He signed a couple books for me. One was for a friend that has been a UConn fan, all his life, that lived in the belly of the beast, Raleigh, NC. I remember thanking him for his hard work and the memories. He flashed that charismatic smile, at each my compliments – Thanks Coach, thanks for all the memories.
1990 Clemson – East Regional Semis. Burrell to George with 1.0: wow!
Watching him grab one of his players by the jersey and yell directly in his face about something stupid, i’m sure and then watching him turn and grab a towel to wipe the spit off his mouth. Classic Calhoun. (I was behind the bench at a UMass/UConn game a few years back)
Art: Too bad you didn’t sell your ticket to someone who likes the Huskies.
Who cares? It’s a lousy game, that’s all. You would think the world is ending but all the freaks who worship this guy will survive. Much more important things going on.
like what elmer?
GO BACK TO APEX AND TEXT SOMEONE WHO CARES!!!
Hey Elmer – if there are so many more important things going on why are you spending time commenting here?
PS – I think your mother is calling you to come up from the basement.
UCONN South: Now that was funny
Buckle up Uconn fans, there’s probably some very long seasons coming up. I went through this same thing when Louie Carnesecca retired from my favorite team St. John’s. Never liked Calhoun, but respected what he did at a school that was nothing for many years, and were still nothing the first 5 years of the Big East.
Coaching legends are almost impossible to replace.
During one of the national championship runs, I got to ref one of UConn’s closed practices and I brought my Dad as my driver. I saw Calhoun go over to him to ask him to leave, but when my dad told him he drove me, Calhoun sat down and talked to him for a few minutes. That was great. Later in the practice he said “if one of the refs tomorrow does [what I had just done], I’ll be so far up his ass that the money he makes will mean nothing to him.” Ya, even as a high school ref I have to balance what he did for Dad, against how his behavior has influenced CT high school basketball.
At the end of a St John and UConn Big East Tournament game in which UConn was the winner: Coach Calhoun had a look of pure joy and with clenched fist…jumped in the air. Then turned around, and with a very serious look, shook Coach Carnesecca hand.
I think the best memory for me is that he loved his players and they loved him, as evidenced by all of the pros and others that come back for his charities and support of each year’s teams. I am still surprised at the number of folks that deride him and that confuses me. He isn’t the best and most articulate coach for the press, but he loves his school, his players, and his family. And I am worried he is irreplaceable. Best wishes to you Jim, thanks for putting UCONN on the map!
Best moment was in 1999. I was in Phoenix. Jim and the players never sat down in the Elite 8 game vs. Gonzaga. When they won a weight was lifted off his shoulder and they then became a transformed team led by an amazing coach who would lead the pride of CT to 3 national championships. Best of luck to you Jim in retirement and even better luck to new head coach KO who is a true gentleman and worthy of this promotion.
great coach great human being
1999 championship greatcoach great human being
My favorite Jim Calhoun moment was when he left UCLA off the list of the five best programs in basketball history.
LOL … classic!
UCLA cheated worse than any college basketball team ever. Wooden looked the other way.
I’ve been a CT resident and a multi-sport fan my entire life. Jim Calhoun did the impossible. He made something out of nothing. He made us a superpower. He made us a champion. He took a cow town and made it a basketball mecca. He could have left for bigger and better things many times….but he stayed. He became part of our fiber and never left.
Did he have wrinkles and warts? Yep. But in the history of this state and it’s sports involvement, there has never, ever been anyone even close to making the impact that this guy made for us. To the naysayers? I say, crawl back under your rock and find another cause to poo-poo. Jim Calhoun gave CT his heart and soul. Congrats to him on a well-deserved retirement.
Well said Deep. I love Jim Calhoun pure and simple. We are so lucky to have him, and every true Husky fan knows it!
Thank you for 40 terrific years commanding the sidelines Jim.
Kras
Because it hasn’t been mentioned yet: Jim pacing up and down the sidelines as Tate George was knocking down free throws in the final minute against Syracuse to seal a victory. Big East Championship Game vs. Syracuse, March, 1990. They beat Georgetown and ‘Cuse in the Garden that weekend (after beating them within 1 week of each other in January). As anyone who lived through that time can attest, UConn basketball was never the same after that.
My favorite moment was his reaction after Tate George’s winner at the buzzer against Clemson. I still have the tape. The way he hopped and bounced down the sideline right up to when he got to the Clemson coach. Then he turned, shook the coach’s hand, and shrugged as if to apologize for winning at the last second.
My favorite Coach Calhoun memory was throwing a basketball out to Chris Smith at a practice and watching Calhoun give me the stare that he gave John Gwynn after hoisting up a 3 from half court. Apparently I was supposed to roll the ball to Coach Calhoun instead of Smitty.
Coach, Thank you for your Hall-of-Fame service to Uconn and for the most remarkable turnaround Coaching job that we have seen in our lifetime. Enjoy your retirement and Thanks Coach !!
I’m pretty sure it was from the UConn-Clemson game after Tate hit “The Shot.” Calhoun’s jumping up and down on the sideline in celebration, then realizes he has to shake hands with the losing coach, so his demeanor changes to subdued on a dime.
In the post-game “chat” with Jim Nantz and Billy Packer (who was NEVER a UCONN fan), when Nantz said “…how did you do it?” And Calhoun replied, “With these guys, and unquestionably with the guys who came before them. And when these guys pulled us over the finish line, it was very special tonight.” Say what you want about Calhoun’s brash approach: we will never again see that kind of blue collar passion for the game and for winning again.
In the words of Joanie Mitchell, “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.”
All the best in your well-deserved retirement, Coach!
For those who have been there since the beginning, without a doubt, the transient moment for Calhoun and the program was during the 89-90 Dream Season when UConn beat Georgetown 70-65 at the Civic Center. Georgetown had Mourning, Mutombo and Smith. They were expected to be the #1 team in the country after the prior #1 lost that day (don’t remember that team). There was no bigger game as we knew we could compete with anyone after that key victory. It set the stage for the remainder of the season and great things to come.
So many good UConn memories and Coach made them possible. He could be a hardass but whatever – we needed somebody like him. I bet if you ask his players, they would tell you the same.
That Georgetown game in 89-90 was awesome. Hoyas were terrifying back then. The year they beat Ohio State in the NIT was pretty special too. I remember when they carried Jeff King off the floor at the Field House and Lyman Depriest shut down Dana Barros in the Garden.
I remember screaming “This ain’t Utica!” to Jim Boeheim after he led his team off the floor after we beat SU in the Civic Center in 89-90. Indeed, we had been kinda like Utica before but after Calhoun showed up, we became UConn – national powerhouse.
Still my favorite memory was the first game of the 1990 tournament in Hartford against BU. It was a 1 vs. 16 game and not only were we in the tourney, we were a #1 seed. Incredible. We came out flat as hell in the first half. We were down by one or it was really close at the half. Husky fans were nervous. An inauspicious start. Well, the Huskies opened that 2nd half with such an unbelievable fury. It was like they had been unleashed from hell. Calhoun called for full-court press/trap. Henefeld had about five steals in the first five minutes. Burrell had a dunk that blew the roof off. That was the start of a long NCAA run for us and a run of teams and players that delivered championships and Final Four. Say what you want about Calhoun’s warts, he worked a miracle with UConn’s basketball team.
May the road rise to meet you, Coach. Happy retirement!
All the above , great coaching moments..one that is rarely mentioned but I remember..U-Conn in NCAA game playing the Shaq and Shaq is shut down completly..U-Conn wins handily..masterful coaching job..believe U-Conn big underdogs..
Coach Calhoun, AKA The Irish Bulldog. Thanks coach for the passion, magic and desire. You put the state of Connecticut on your back and carried us to greatness. I hope what you have built will endure forever.
FREDDYKOOL: AAAAAAH MY FAVORITE MOMENT WAS THE PUKIE DUKIE SAYING IN A PREGAME INTERVIEW THAT “NO QUESTION DUKE BY 13 POINTS” AND THEN AND THEN AND THEN “WE SHOCKED THE WORLD” THANK YOU JIM, COACHES, AND PLAYERS FOR SO MANY THRILLS OVER THE YEARS. I AND UCONN NATION LOVES U MADLY.
The 1999 win against Duke for the National Championship for SURE!
He, “SHOCKED THE WORLD” in the words of Khalid El-Amin.
Long Life, and Best of luck Coach Calhoun, in whatever you do.
Maybe this coach will make the kids go to school not just practice
Hey, Digger, go dig yourself a hole….
Or steal lap tops
Dude, if you’re going to criticize, then please learn to spell laptop. It’s really easy. Just put the two words together next time. Think you can remember that? Although, I do like how it does reinforce your ignorance!
DIGGER: HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
FELL ON THE FLOOR
HHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
CAN’T GET UP HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
CRACK ME UP HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
that is funny digger because they went to class. I was there so I know. I was at the first game at Gampel in 1990. I worked for the Athletic dept. I cannot stand jealous people. Programs continue to find it hard to adhere to these NCAA rules. This program was clean. I would like to see what Coach K and Coach Cal have done under a microscope at Duke and Kentucky. I am not wasting my breath on this stuff anymore. Quite simply the greatest re building program and one of the greatest coaches to ever live. Thanks Coach Calhoun and I was there for 4 years of it.
When Tate George hit “the shot” against Clemson, Calhoun was euphoric but in an instant composed himself and almost looked sympathetic when he shook the hand of stunned coach Cliff Ellis.
It’s too bad there are the “marsha’s” and “elmer’s” of the world, dopes who know little about passion as a fan and understanding the impact of a person like Jim Calhoun not only to us, but to the kids he coached. For every idiot like them there are fans and ex-players who were closer to the scene who will tell these clueless buffoons how great a character man he was and how great a contributor he was to other families who have been impacted by his good deeds away from basketball.
I wish Jim and his family the very best in his retirement and hope he knows exactly how much he has meant to the “old” Yankee Conference fans base who never knew the so many tings he did for us, were truly POSSIBLE. The man shocked the world in so many ways it can’t be known to those who lived it this long.
THANK YOU JIM and best of health!!!!!!
well said
GET SOME FACTS AND COME BACK TO SEE ME!!!
Watching him being interviewed at his bar while people are drinking in the background. REALLY great role model.
Is drinking now illegal in Connecticut???
No, but it is not a good image for kids to see him in that environment. Plus, the was using it to plugging his bar. Very crud.
very crud?
Poor Bill. We hurt his tender feelings.
My favorite moment is when him and his program got caught cheating and he let his assistants take the fall and pretended not to know anything. What a great guy.
Rich: Three rings baby, you jealous, eh???
Paul, you really need to get a life.
My life is swatting flies like you.
Sum up cheating for us Rich. Oh you mean the kind that is now LEGAL. Too many texts and calls to a kid that never played a second really gave our program a huge edge. Apparently it didnt give much of an advantage, as I said, because the NCAA now allows it.
The last Big East Tournament UConn won was a masterful display of coaching and game strategy. Beating each top team on the way to becoming champs. After that display, The NCAA tournament seemed almost an afterthought. Held out hope coach would treat us one more time. But that was incredible.
The last national championship season will never be duplicated by anybody. We have witnessed the powerof sheer determination by a man that could not do it any other way. I am so proud of his achievements. Thank you Coach.
this one…with all best wished form his health and well-being, the sight of him ducking out on the mess he made, fits.
ecco – go back to your hole you troll.
Apparently all the bashers here couldn’t possibly be true UCONN fans. I have so many favorites its hard to choose just one! But I have to say it might be that night in ’99 when UCONN beat Gonzaga to advance to the Final Four. Once they did that I knew we were going all the way. Never a doubt. Coach – you’ve given UCONN nation much to be thankful for. Enjoy your retirement – you deserve it….and you will NEVER be forgotten.
Probably best he finally makes it official. Hasn’t really
coached in many years. Great recruiter, based on many past
years. Heard many times that his staff gets the recruits
attention then he walks in and “seals the deal” by saying
“I can get you to the NBA”
Hey moron, in 2010-2011 he took a preseason unranked, and 9-9 in the regular season, team through the most improbable championship run in the history of sports. 11 straight wins and 5 of them were in 5 straight days. Including Maui, UConn won every tournament/postseason game that year. I’d say there was some damn good coaching there.
Best moment – 1999!!! Working in RI in 1999, the day after Uconn beat Duke to win the 1999 title was the best. I can into work the next day and beaming with pride that my hometown team won it all. THANKS COACH!!!
Education is what UConn was built for and for which Connecticut citizens pay taxes. The 99 championship was impressive because it wasn’t supposed to happen. Calhoun didn’t play the game. Ricky Moore and company won that game.
The end of the Calhoun era, with or without championships, hopefully will mean decency and education and student athletes have returned to UConn Men’s basketball. Hopefully the Miles are gone forever. Ollie will be on a short leash. No more swearing, vulgar words to players on or off the court (yes players use them but they are supposed to be LEARNING how to live in civilized company). No more yanking players off the floor and demeaning them in front of family and fans. No more ranting and railing to the UConn team and fans from the coaching staff in front of camera’s. This is certainly a great day for UConn Mens basketball. Jim won championships yep—but it was all the crap around how he did it. Now as a Uconn fan I can raise my head and once again say with pride UConn’s Team is a winner and no longer tained by vulgarity.
DirtyMouth will only be happy when Gene Hackman shows up on campus to coach, and the team shoots free throws underhanded.
The world you think you remember (the one where cheating hadn’t been invented yet, nobody ever swore, and talented ballplayers would choose a 4-year degree over making millions playing pro ball) never existed, old man.
Hey Dirty Mouth: Go back to URI and wish you could win a national championship.
Jims teams have been on the HONOR SYSTEM–
Yes Your Honor–No Your Honor!!!!!
Ooooh how clever…you must have a Dook education.
Health has been an issue too long for Jim. It is good he finally decided to retire and live the time left with his wife and family. It goes all too fast!!
It was the last game of his first year. The Civic center had 5000 faithful fans. We lost. He thanked us for supporting our team and then he promised this would never happen again(9-19 season) Thanks for keeping your promice. It has been a great 25 years
I was at that game with my father. It was against Seton Hall. I think Uconn won that game though. An amazing accomplishment since both Cliff Robinson and Phil Gamble where suspended for the rest of the year due to poor grades.
My lasting memory of Jim Calhoun..Not Good
Celtics playing the Raptors in an exhibition game at the civic center a couple years ago. The big TV monitor at the arena shows a close up of Calhoun sitting court side,the plays erupts, everyone starts cheering in the building. He looks up, see’s he’s on the jumbo screen, doesn’t smile completely ignoring the crowd and looks away. I’ve also met him twice at the Buick Championship, away from the crowd, he was a jerk then too. He can coach but is a flat out piece of garbage. Never cared for him.
Dan, sorry to hear that a true celebrity didn’t have time to pay attention to YOU. I am sure no one reading your post will be able to sleep for months worrying about whether YOU are getting the attention you need. On behalf of millions of CT fans, we appologize. There, do you feel better now? Truely pathetic Dan
Hey Dan: He hated you too.
Last 5 seconds of the Duke championship game in 1999.
That Duke team was loaded.
I agree. I watched that game with three of my best friends and we are all fairly big guys. Macho as we were, we celebrated by jumping up and down like children and I thought we were going to fall through the floor of the second story apartment.
Had a chance to meet Coach Calhoun way back in his first year at UConn back in November of 1986. He was holding a practice/scrimmage at St. Joseph’s High School in Trumbull. I believe he was trying to recruit a player named Chris Watts (went on to play at Providence). A very nice guy, got an autograph along one from most of the players on that team (Gerry Besselink, Cliff Robinson, Phil Gamble, Tate George, Jeff King, etc.) My father also got to score for his group in the Greater Hartford Open a few years later.
It’s today, the day he leaves the program in shambles. He may have the wins, but he does not have class
Michael: Wins the last time you won anything, eh?
Paul, after looking at all the snide replies you have made about anyones negative comment about Calhoun my only question is do you have a life? Calhoun does not give a rat’s ass about anything,or anyone, but the millions of dollars he has made because of suckers like you.
Tim: He won for UConn three national championships. When I went to UConn they froze the ball from the start of the game out of fear of BC and lost an NCAA game to Duke by about 60. He performed a miracle. So if I have to spend a few minutes stepping on ants like you, I’ll take the time. Eh, clown.
Paul, we need more fans like you. It’s crazy how some people can’t comprehend what Jim Calhoun has done. No one says he’s perfect, but many have said what he did was improbable. I can honestly say that I will never be more appreciative as a sports fan in my lifetime. Period.
Getting a little creepy there. Have you seen the movie the fan? You’re the guy living with his mom.
I will never forget the NIT win at the Field House as one of the loudest and most exciting games ever. It was the first inkling of what was to come with Jim Calhoun and showed us that Calhoun was right when he said Cliff Robertson could be a star. I also still have all the newspaper articles from the DREAM TEAM and first National Championship. Calhoun did what he had to do to motivate these kids and they loved him and it worked! Thank you Jim!
What Calhoun did for not just the Men’s Basketball program, but the university and state as a whole is unmatched anywhere in the country. The university and the state is in a better place because of him. The rise of the Men’s Basketball program directly coincides with the rise of the university to the level of a top 20 public institution. His philanthropy and charity events have raised millions and will continue to do so. You could argue that he is the most influential person in CT over the past 50 years.
Anyone who thinks that it is different at other schools is kidding themselves. UNC – academic fraud that the NCAA has chosen to ignore, Duke – Jewelry scandal that the NCAA will probably sweep under the rug, Kentucky – NCAA violations in the early 90′s and now a new basketball dorm that is ridiculous and something the NCAA is currently overlooking, Indiana – still recovering from NCAA sanctions, Memphis – academic fraud, UCLA – NCAA violations in recent years, etc. etc. The list is long and includes storied programs so let’s not be too quick to single out and judge Jim Calhoun and UConn.
Bottom line…the best building job of any coach in the history of college basketball just ask Vitale, Bilas, etc. The fact that the “experts” are saying that the UConn program may never be the same again is all we need to know.
COACH CALHOUN – AS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, IN YOUR FIRST YEAR AS HEAD COACH AT UCONN, YOU TOOK THE TIME TO LET ME INTERVIEW YOU FOR MY SENIOR PAPER WHICH I GOT AN “A” ON. THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING 26 YEARS! IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL JOURNEY!
There are too many good things about Coach Jim Calhoun to try to pick one, the 3 NCAA championships, the rise of UConn basketball from dust to present, the charity work he does, the young men that he made better, not only on court, but in life also. As a UConn sports fan I give a big THANK YOU to Coach Calhoun, and wish Kevin Ollie all the best in filling Jim’s sneakers! Also good to hear Calhoun plans to represent UConn in anyway he can.
For all those years, Jim Calhoun gave CT Huskies fans season after season of great basketball, three national championships, plenty of thrills and leaves a great basketball program. Thanks for everything Coach. Enjoy your retirement. CT fans will never forget you!
Coach Calhoun, Jim. Greatest memory was perhaps the time at the Jimmy V golf tournament when he saw me and my young son and duaghter wearing our UCONN regalia. It’s not that he just came over and spent time with us. That would have been enough. He invited us to walk the entire hole with him. Simply Unbelievable. A man is measured by the the company he keeps and the friends he has. 27 former UCONN NBA millionaires come back every year to JC’s charities, and would run through a wall for him still. Nothing else written or said about the man matters. Jim Calhoun’s greatness on so many levels will always be a part of us all. Thank God we got to know you Jim.
Kras
if you like him you’ll put him on a pedestal if you don’t you’ll see him for what he is really like.
the greatest moment for me was he stopped jerking his team around and finally announced his retirement. Now they can concentrate on basketball and not him. remember it takes a TEAM to win, not the coach.
just how many games did he miss in the last 5 years? more than enough to not justify his salary and reputation.
sure would have liked to see Ray Allen as the new coach but hopefully Kevin will do them proud.
now all you Calhoun lovers can bash me. sounds like what you like to do instead of remarking on the article. oh well, have fun putting me down.
Better to just [sigh] move on , which I will do…
My favorite Calhoun moment was the 10 minutes we spent together talking about nothing but really everything at Whole Foods in Glastonbury. No basket ball talk (though it was mid season), just two guys, passing the time (a little bonding)while their wives were shopping for organic veggies. That aside, successful indiviuals like Calhoun are fueled by a drive that few of us are imbued with. Perhaps he did break a few eggs along the way but in the end, no one ever made a better omelet.
Greatest “Calhoun” moment for me was 1990 Tate George Game. Tate hit the shot, Calhound jumped up and down like a little kid, then he snapped out of it and back to professional as he shook Clemson’s coaches hand.
I was always remember the first Championship. Calhoun out coached coach K by a mile. He is the single best game planner of all time. If I had one game to win, he is my coach. He knows how to make a game plan against any team. Pick apart weaknesses and exploit his team’s strengths.
Also, remember, he did all of this without getting top recruiting classes. He had good recruits and sometimes great recruits but he had Jim Calhoun recruits that fit into his system perfectly.
Thanks coach. YOu are the best and you will be missed. Good luck Kevin! We are excited to have you as our next coach!
Agreed for the most part on the one game coach. The only other one I may put ahead of him is Jim Valvano (a bit biased though, born and raised in CT and a lifelong Uconn fan, but attended and graduated from North Carolina State). It was SWEET watching UCONN take down Duke for the championship 1999 in a Sports Bar full of Duke Fans.
I have many wonderful memories of Jim Calhoun the coach, but my favorite Coach Calhoun story is how in the middle of basketball season he took time to call me with encouraging words to help me in my fight against cancer. He kept calling to make sure I was ok with all the aspects of this insidious disease. His caring and strength was a large part of my recovery. For all the people who think they know him through the sports pages they have no idea about the true Jim Calhoun. He is a man of principle and strength. I wish the best for him as all people who know him do.
Long time UCONN fan – back to the Yankee Conference days. Just after Coach Calhoun was hired at UCONN I got into an elevator with him in Hartford. From the short conversation I said to myself, this is one tough guy and exactly what we need to compete in the Big East. Thanks Jim for making UCONN a national power.
Ask the folks that work at the health center what a gem he is. From what I’ve been told he thinks the place is his own private hospital when he’s there. Good riddance. Note one dime.
You think that’s bad, you should hear what they say about you. Moron!
Totally non-basketball related. Listening to his eulogy of his best friend, college roommate and my former co-worker in 2010. I always knew that this was a loyal guy but the love that poured out of him that day was overwhelming and filled with emotion.
Good luck Jim. Thanks for taking us to a level of UCONN basketball that we never expected.
my favorite coach calhoun moment is every game he took the sidelines for uconn, our team.so many haters out there that expect people to have totaly perfect lives,never make a mistake. what glass house do you live in? This man gave his all for this unversity,each and every night.To make a statement about how much he was getting paid is irrelevent.All top coaches get paid! It comes with being at the top of your profession.Thanks coach for your passion,for putting uconn basketball on the map.Now enjoy your retirement, well deserved.Best of luck to Kevin, and all present,and future uconn basketball teams. The bar has been set high.Now go get it Husky4ever
Sitting in the Civic Center one December day, a U-Conn Holiday tournament , Home team supposed to win type…and playing in a lead up game , North Eastern..Western, what ever..and Coach Perno and Team get the sn*t beat out of them and turned to friend I was with, asked ..”Who are these guys, that coach”..my first experience with Coach C.
Old Yankee conference fan, graduated over 50 years ago from Storrs..remember when St Joseph was a big good game on the schedule..old dusty field house..who ever would have imagined.
For those complaining about all kind of things..his language for one. You do know that the kids on his team are the age of young recruits in our military. If you have ever served you know the DI’s language is something to write home about..and if you have not served , the DI’s language is something to write home about.
Salary concerns…it is what is necessary and in his case he delivered..how many of the coaches who are paid about the same..considering how long at same school have delivered as he has..
I wish Ollie all the best in the future..for Coach , thank you so much for the ride..it’s been heaven…so unexpected but happened so often one got jaded and thought that is what it’s supposed to be like every year..
Realized it isn’t but he seemed to make it so more often then not.
Jimmy Boy being obnoxiously drunk in his so called bar, Coaches. The bar where he put in 4,000 and drank 5000 worth. He is an ego maniac with no class
and you know this how???
Dude he’s Irish. Cut him some slack.
When I was attending Windham High in the early ’90′s, Calhoun spoke at a student leadership conference held at ECSU. After he addressed the group, a few of us met him on the outside steps and talked about the program for several minutes. It was right around the time Kevin Ollie was recruited. There was another guy at the time named Richie Ashemeade that was also coming in and was reputed to be a promising guard. Calhoun was very down-to-earth, approachable, and gracious.
1988 NIT Championship!!!!!! Why would the clemson game be a good. THEY BLEW A 20 Point LEAD TO CLEMSON!
I remember meeting Coach Calhoun in 1986 at a JV basketball game at Kolbe. He had just gotten the UCONN job and was sitting in the stands all by himself. I noticed him from the Courant and introduced myself and welcomed him. He was extremely gracious and gave me a few minutes of his time. Imagine that happening now, it would never happen because this man built a National Program at our little State School. We had no basketball team to even speak about much less brag about. Rentschler Field, Burton Complex, Gampel, new buildings on campus, all because he made UCONN winners.
We are a bandwagon state. Three National Championships and yet people still love to hate on Coach for his flaws. Guess what, he was the program and I hope you are all prepared for a few down years as there will never be another Coach Calhoun. I can’t wait to say “be careful what you wish for” when the program goes back to mediocrity. All you “haters” would give your right arm to win another championship.
Sven would like to thank Coach Calhoun for making my college degree worth so much more and giving me decades of enjoyment watching our Huskies win. Enjoy retirement Coach.
Sven would also like to compliment Paul Knopick for taking on the task of whacking all the idiots who posted negative comments in the head with a bat. Excellent work Paul. Sven appreciates your efforts.
Sven hopes that he’s wrong about Ollie being not ready for prime time. The press conference has Sven really hopeful that Ollie’s tremendous work ethic can continue the tradition of winning at UConn. Sven rarely hopes he’s wrong except when it’s when he thinks he might have burnt the fondue because he was so busy correcting Dom’s mistakes. Dom’s tweet about about Ollie playing in the “MBA” yesterday was classic Dom.
The good news for Dom is maybe Kevin Ollie will give him the time of day. That would make for more time for Sven and Mrs. Dom.