UConn’s Hathaway Retires

It looks like Jim Calhoun has won the power struggle at UConn.

Jeff Hathaway, Calhoun’s boss and rival, announced on Friday that he will retire as Director of Athletics at UConn. He will remain employed by UConn through September 15 to assist in the transition process.

Hathaway will reportedly be paid up to $531,717 through Sept. 15, 2013, plus medical and other benefits.

The decision came in the wake of a recent announcement by President Susan Herbst that she was conducting a review of the athletic department focusing on academic performance, NCAA compliance and fundraising.

The men’s basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Tournament, the women reached the Final Four, the football team played in the Fiesta Bowl and the baseball team reached an NCAA super regional.

But the men’s basketball team is facing sanctions for NCAA violations, and is also dealing with declining academic scores and sinking donations.

“I have been proud to serve the University of Connecticut for nearly two decades, including the last eight years as Director of Athletics,” said Hathaway. “It is an honor and privilege to have led this outstanding Division of Athletics and to have worked with so many remarkable student-athletes, coaches, staff members and colleagues at the University, the Big East Conference and NCAA.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to have collaborated with so many exceptional individuals during this proud period of academic and athletic excellence. After 20 years of being associated with UConn, I felt the time was right for me to pursue new challenges. I wish the very best to all those associated with UConn Athletics, and to this great University, now and long into the future.”

“I want to thank Jeff for his long service to UConn and our Division of Athletics,” Herbst said. “The university has had unprecedented success on the field, on the court and in the classroom for more than a decade and he has a great deal to be proud of during his tenure. I join so many others at the university in thanking him for his service and in wishing him well.”

Herbst also announced that Senior Associate Director of Athletics Paul McCarthy will assume the responsibilities of the director until an interim director is named.

Don’t be shocked if Calhoun announces his plans to return to UConn soon, although numerous recruits told SNY.tv he has already told them he’s in it for the long haul.

Hathaway was the chair of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, and the NCAA will now have to go in another direction.

“In the near future, our staff will work with Mr. Hathaway to determine the best approach regarding the balance of his term, including the status of his service as chair the committee during the 2011-12 academic year,” said Bob Williams, NCAA Vice President of Communications.