Report: Calhoun to leave UConn
Hartford, CT – Jim Calhoun's days as head men's basketball coach are about to come to an end.
NBC Connecticut cited a source in a Wednesday report, saying the exit of the long-time leader of the Huskies program is "imminent."
That was followed by an additional report from the station, which revealed a press conference has been called for 2 p.m. (ET) Thursday, where former player and current assistant Kevin Ollie will be named as Calhoun's successor.
Calhoun, 70, was forced to take a leave of absence in the middle of last season due to a bout with spinal stenosis, a lower back condition that causes severe pain and hampers mobility. UConn went 20-14 overall and was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Iowa State. Those health troubles were compounded by a fractured hip suffered while bike riding in July.
It was the latest in a series of setbacks for the man who led UConn to three national championships. Calhoun also missed seven games during the 2009-10 season for an unspecified problem and is a three-time cancer survivor. He recovered from prostate cancer in 2003 and skin cancer in 2008.
The Huskies won a trio of national titles under his watch, in 1999, 2004 and 2011, but are under sanctions for postseason play this coming season due to below-standard academic progress scores.
A native of eastern Massachusetts, Calhoun was named to the post prior to the 1986-87 season. He has racked up a 618-233 regular-season record with a 268-149 mark in the Big East.