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Jim Calhoun, on medical leave since Feb. 3 after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis, is set to return to the sidelines on March 3 for UConn's Senior Day against Pittsburgh. Calhoun underwent back surgery on Feb. 27.
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball head coach Jim Calhoun has experienced a multitude of medical and health issues over the years, but has overcome every one of them and come back to coach the team time and again. It appears he is nearly ready to return following his latest setback.
Andy Katz at ESPN reports that Calhoun will undergo back surgery on Monday to remedy his spinal stenosis. He was diagnosed with the malady and took a leave of absence Feb. 3, but is already planning for a March 3 comeback for UConn's regular-season finale, assuming all goes well with the surgery. There are concerns about him returning to the sidelines so soon after surgery, but Calhoun seems determined to keep the timeline he has set for himself.
Calhoun, who turns 70 in May, said two weeks ago that he does not want to retire. And multiple sources told ESPN.com that Calhoun wouldn't want to end his career in this manner, and would like to see the new basketball facility built before quitting.
Here's to hoping all goes well on Monday and Calhoun is able to return at full strength.
For more on Calhoun and the Huskies, head over to SB Nation's The UConn Blog.
Jim Calhoun's medical leave of absence has been extended at least three more games according to Phil Chardis, UConn's assistant director of athletic communications. Calhoun has missed the Huskies' last three games while dealing with a worsening degenerative condition called spinal stenosis.
UConn: Coach Jim Calhoun's medical leave of absence will be extended through at least the next three games.
— Phil Chardis (@uconnmbbsid) February 15, 2012
The news means that Calhoun will not be available on the sideline until at least Feb. 25 when the Huskies take on the No. 2 Syracuse Orange at home in the third-to-last game of the regular season. Still, Calhoun's plan is to return sooner rather than later. He has battled back from cancer and stomach conditions, and has said that he has no plans to retire just yet.
For more on Calhoun and the Huskies, head over to the SB Nation blog The UConn Blog.
Although Connecticut Huskies coach Jim Calhoun took an indefinite leave of absence on February 3 after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis, he is already planning to return as soon as possible.
According to Andy Katz of ESPN, Calhoun -- who has beaten cancer and overcome stomach conditions as well -- views this medical issue as just another minor setback to overcome. Calhoun indicated that his pain has abated somewhat thanks to medication.
Calhoun said that he has appointments in Boston and New York to get further MRI testing on his back. Those results will decide what the correct course of treatment should be before any decisions are made on how long he will be gone from the team and program.
"It's something I've got to get through," Calhoun said. "I don't think it changes my mind one way or another about next year or the next two years. I just want to get the pain gone from down my leg so I can walk right. Getting onto planes and coaching -- I can't do that right now."
If there's one thing that no one can dispute, it's Calhoun's proven toughness and determination over the years. He is adamant that he is not in danger of needing to retire and plans to be back sooner, rather than later.
For more on Calhoun and the Huskies, head over to the SB Nation blog The UConn Blog.
Connecticut Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun will take an indefinite medical leave of absence starting immediately, according to a release from UConn Athletics Communications. Calhoun is dealing with a worsening case of spinal stenosis, a lower back condition that causes intense pain and hinders mobility.
Calhoun also took a leave of absence for several weeks in 2010. According to Dr. Peter Schulman at the UConn Healthy Center, Calhoun has been coping with this condition for months now.
"Last summer, Jim had some significant back pain and has seen two excellent back specialists," Schulman said. "The initial approach recommended to him was stretching, physical therapy and exercise, and that was successful for several months. It turns out that there is some degenerative problem in the lumbar vertebrae and it's impinging on the nerves. It has led to significant back pain and some symptoms in his lower extremities.
"Jim has been able to manage it with the physical therapy and stretching, but over the last several days, things have become worse and he is not able to deal with this on a day to day basis, so other options need to be considered. Right now, he is physically unable to coach."
According to the release, Calhoun will not coach Saturday's game against Seton Hall, nor Monday's game at Louisville. Associate head coach George Blaney will assume head coaching duties until Calhoun is deemed fit to return to the bench.
For more on Calhoun and the Huskies, head over to the SB Nation blog The UConn Blog.
Jim Calhoun Will Return Saturday From Back Surgery
Connecticut will play its final regular season game on Saturday against rival Pittsburgh on Senior Day, but they'll be getting a bit more of a boost with the return of head coach Jim Calhoun. Calhoun is recovering from back surgery and has missed the Huskies last eight games while dealing with spinal stenosis.
"I'm getting back to normal," Calhoun told the Associated Press. "I'm not quite as cranky as I should be, but hopefully I will get there." Calhoun returned to practice on Friday and will be joining the 2011-12 seniors on the court Saturday night."
Calhoun still has a desire to coach despite dealing with the back issues. He turns 70 in May. The Huskies coach is in his 40th year coaching and has racked up 870 wins in his career, placing him sixth all-time.
For more on Calhoun and the Huskies, head over to SB Nation's The UConn Blog.
Mar 03 11:22a by Alfie Crow - 0 comments