Legendary UCONN Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun Calls It a Career

The University of Saint Joseph made it official Thursday on its website. Their men's head basketball coach and Connecticut legend, Jim Calhoun decided to step down. In a statement, Calhoun said, "It's just the right time."

Five years ago, Calhoun took on the job of creating a men's college basketball team at USJ, and from 2018 to 2021 racked up a record of 47-17  leading the Blue Jays to the 2020 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in just the team's second-ever season.

In 1986, Jim Calhoun signed on to coach the UCONN Huskies men's Basketball team and from 1986 until 2012 it was called the "Calhoun Era" at UCONN. Before Calhoun's tenure began, the basketball team was underperforming and didn't show any promise. What happened when Coach Calhoun took over, is what made-for-TV movies are made of.

By 1988, UCONN was on its way when they won the NIT. 1989 was the first of seven 30-win seasons for Calhoun when the Huskies earned a No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament. It was also the year he was named Big East coach of the year. Twenty of Calhoun's players went on to play in the NBA. According to bleacherreport.com, here are some of Coach Calhoun's former players that moved on to the NBA:

1. Clifford Robinson - Portland Trail Blazers - 1989
2. Tate George - New Jersey Nets - 1990
3. Donyell Marshall - Minnesota Timberwolves - 1994
4. Kevin Ollie - Dallas Mavericks - 1995
5. Ray Allen - Milwaukee Bucks - 1996
6. Travis Knight - Chicago Bulls -  1996
7. Richard Hamilton - Washington Wizards - 1999
8. Jake Voskuhl - Phoenix Suns - 2000
9. AJ Price - Indiana Pacers - 2009
10. Kemba Walker - Charlotte Hornets - 2011

Why did Jim Calhoun decide to retire? What he told the Hartford Courant says it all.

“Back home in Pomfret, there’s a very happy woman right now. There are a lot of things that I would like to do, and it’s time to spend more time with my wife and family.”