Jim Calhoun Announces Retirement; Kevin Ollie Temporarily Taking Over

UConn Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun Announces His Retirement

After 40 seasons as a head coach, Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun announced his retirement on Thursday.

New UConn Basketball Coach Kevin Ollie Signs 1-Year Contract

Connecticut has announced that new head basketball coach Kevin Ollie has signed a one-year deal that will pay him $625,000 to coach the Huskies during the 2012-13 season.

Ollie, who was a star player for UConn from 1991-95, will succeed Jim Calhoun, who is announcing his retirement at a press conference Thursday afternoon. Ollie had been an assistant under Calhoun since 2010.

This will be the first time since 1985 that someone other than Calhoun has entered a college basketball season as the Huskies’ head coach. Calhoun, 70, turned the once-middling Connecticut program into a national powerhouse, winning seven Big East tournament titles, making a school-record four Final Four appearances and winning national championships in 1999, 2004 and 2011.

Because of low APR scores, Connecticut is ineligible to participate in any postseason tournament in 2012-13, including the Big East tournament.

For more on Jim Calhoun’s retirement, please be sure to check out The UConn Blog, SB Nation Boston and our college basketball hub for all the latest news and updates.

A Reminder Of Home: Jim Calhoun, And Why He'll Be Missed

As Jim Calhoun retires, a Connecticut native looks back at his legacy in the state and why UConn fans will miss him so.

Jim Calhoun Retirement: Kevin Ollie To Coach Huskies In 2012-13

Following the retirement of longtime Connecticut Huskies men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun, former UConn star and assistant coach Kevin Ollie will take the reins fo the team for the 2012-13 season, according to Jeff Goodman of CBS. Ollie's future coaching status with be evaluated after the season, Goodman reports.

Goodman also reports that Karl Hobbs will be promoted to a full-time assistant under Ollie, who starred for UConn between 1991 and 1995 before embarking on a 13-year NBA career that ended after the 2009-10 season, when he retired to come back to Storrs as an assistant. After Wednesday's surprising announcement that Calhoun will step down, the Huskies needed a hook to bring new athletes into the program, and Hobbs has a lengthy history of being a quality recruiter.

This will be the first season since 1985 that someone other than Calhoun has entered a college hoops season as the Huskies' head coach. Calhoun, 70, turned the once-middling program into a powerhouse within a few seasons, winning seven Big East tournaments, making a school-record four Final Four appearances and winning three national championships (1999, 2004 and 2011) under Calhoun's stewardship.

For more on Jim Calhoun's retirement, please be sure to check out The UConn Blog, SB Nation Boston, our college basketball hub and SB Nation for all the latest news and updates.

Jim Calhoun Reportedly Retiring Thursday, Kevin Ollie Likely To Take Over As Head Coach

Jim Calhoun, the long-time head coach of the Connecticut Huskies men's basketball program, will announce his retirement Thursday, a source has told New Haven Register beat writer David Borges. Assistant coach Kevin Ollie is expected to be named the new coach of the Huskies for the 2012-13 season, after which time his status will be re-evaluated.

Borges's report confirms an earlier story from NBC Connecticut's Bob Connors that stated the retirement of the 70-year-old Calhoun was imminent. Just six days ago, it was revealed Calhoun was contemplating retirement, as he's been recovering from a fractured left hip that he suffered while riding his bike near his summer home in Madison, CT. The recovery process has forced Calhoun to be a part of the program in a limited capacity.

Last season, Calhoun took a month-long medical leave of absence as he was suffering from spinal stenosis. In his absence, the Huskies were led by assistant coach George Blaney.

For more Jim Calhoun's retirement, visit the SB Nation blog The UConn Blog.

Jim Calhoun's Retirement Is Imminent, According To Report

UConn men's basketball head coach Jim Calhoun's retirement is imminent, a source close to the coach has told NBC Connecticut's Bob Connors. Calhoun has been deciding whether or not to retire over the summer as he's been recovering from a fracture hip