Jim Calhoun hadn’t even officially retired as head coach at the University of Connecticut on Thursday afternoon, yet the Huskies already had secured his successor.
Kevin Ollie, a former standout guard for Calhoun from 1991-1995 and an assistant coach under Calhoun for the last two seasons, has been named the head men’s basketball coach at his alma mater.
Ollie, a 13-year NBA veteran, will have a contract that runs through April 4, 2013 that will pay him $625,000. He becomes the 17th head coach in UConn history, the fourth since 1969-70 season and just the second since 1986-87 with Calhoun now retired.
“I am very honored and humbled to become the UConn men’s basketball coach,” Ollie said. “I cannot put into words how grateful I am to Coach Jim Calhoun, who retires today as one of the most legendary coaches in the history of college basketball. Coach Calhoun brought me here to Connecticut as a person right of high school and has mentored me into the person I have become today. ”
Ollie is going to have some big shoes to fill as Calhoun leaves Storrs with a 625-243 record (873-380 overall), having taken a sleepy, dormant New England program and turned it into a perennial Big East and national championship contender. Calhoun’s three national titles (1999, 2004, 2011) make the Hall of Famer one of only five coaches to win at least three national titles, the others being John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Bob Knight, and Mike Krzyzewski.
“I always said that I would know when it was time, whenever that might be,” said Calhoun, who made the official announcement Thursday afternoon at a news conference at Gampel Pavilion on UConn’s Storrs campus. “The hip injury (suffered in early August) really didn’t enter into the decision, except that it gave me more time to think about it and the more I thought about it, the more I became convinced that this was the right time to move on to the next phase of my life.”
Photo: Associated Press
UofA BJ / September 13, 2012
Thank God,
KU fans had me thinking it would be Sean Miller.
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fearthephog25 / September 13, 2012
”Ollie, a 13-year NBA veteran, will have a contract that runs through April 4, 2013.”
UCONN money and being closer to HOME. So why wouldn’t he consider taking his recruiting skills to the Huskies. If you can’ beat’em (UW Huskies), join the Pack (not the Pac). LOL
Just wait until an offer is on the Table and Ollie doesn’t get 20 wins.
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UofA BJ / September 13, 2012
How does UConn expect 2 win 20 games? Program Is decimated. Ollie will get at least 3 years 2 prove his worth.
Maybe bill self is the better option? Considering UConn has as many NC in last 13 years than KU has in history of there storied program.
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Cat in the Desert / September 13, 2012
ku fans wishing this was true so bself would stop being owned in the recruiting trail…
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fearthephog25 / September 13, 2012
You are dumb to think he is getting 3 years. LOL Be real, don’t hide in Denial. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, not all NBA Players are meant to be coaches. Still butthurt because UCLA stole your thunder? Maybe you guys can lure kenny payne back west from kentucky? haha
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fearthephog25 / September 13, 2012
Since you guys ”own” the recruiting trail, how did that work out for you last season in the NIT? LOL Coming out of the powerhouse conference pac 12. Can miller coach pure talent?
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Darth Cal / September 13, 2012
Has Zona ever beat Self on the court? Pretty sure that’s all that matters. KU owns the copy cats of north Mexico. Lol
NIT chumps!! You guys probably hung a banner for it.
Wow, in his third year with all this recruiting talent, Miller takes his team to the NIT. That’s fricken’ AWESOME!!!
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RcKchalk12 / September 13, 2012
Seriously Zona fans just stop…. its to the point youre embarrasing yourself
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