Having completed his 23nd season as head coach at the University of Connecticut and his 38th year as a collegiate head coach, Jim Calhoun has unquestionably stood the test of time in establishing himself as perhaps the greatest program builder in college basketball history. Jim Calhoun's coaching success story includes reaching 2 career milestones in 2008-09---membership in the ultra exclusive 800-win club and a third trip to the NCAA Final Four. Jim Calhoun's phenomenal coaching success story includes winning two NCAA National Championships (1999, 2004) at Connecticut, earning basketball's highest honor while still an active coach, election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2005, and induction in 2006 with the other greats of the game as a member of the Founding Class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. The beginning of what has become one of college basketball's greatest coaching achievements-transforming the University of Connecticut into one of the nation's elite programs-was launched in May of 1986 when Jim Calhoun was named head coach. More than twenty years later, UConn Basketball sits atop the college basketball landscape with a pair of NCAA National Championships, an NIT Championship, recognition as the most successful program in the history of the Big East Conference with a record-setting 16 league titles, and annual acknowledgement as one of America's truly outstanding college programs. In April of 2004, Jim Calhoun cemented his place among the all-time collegiate coaching greats and as a future member of the Hall of Fame by leading UConn to the 2004 national title. In directing Connecticut to its second NCAA National Championship in a six-year span, Jim Calhoun became, at the time, only the second coach to win multiple NCAA titles since the tournament field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Within a six-day period in April 2005, Jim Calhoun was honored with two career awards. On April 4, 2005, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame introduced Coach Calhoun as a Class of 2005 Hall of Fame enshrinee. On April 9, 2005, Coach Calhoun became just the seventh recipient of the prestigious John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award" presented by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Previous winners of the award include Hall of Fame coaches Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski and Lute Olson. Entering his 38th year as a collegiate head coach in 2009-10, Jim Calhoun ranks No. 9 all-time in NCAA career victories with 43 (40-13 at Connecticut, 3-5 at Northeastern). Coach Calhoun is 43-18 in overall NCAA play (with two NCAA titles). Jim Calhoun's overall career record for national postseason tournament competition is a remarkable 55-22 (43-18 in NCAA play, 12-4 in NIT play). He has coached in the NCAA Tournament 21 times and in the NIT five times (including winning the 1988 NIT title). Including the 2009 season, Jim Calhoun has led UConn to 16 NCAA bids in the past 20 years. Under Coach Calhoun's direction, UConn has a stunning 25-4 in NCAA First and Second Round competition since 1990. The Huskies have earned 12 NCAA Sweet 16 berths in the past 18 years, eight Elite Eight appearances, three NCAA Final Four trips and two National Championships. Under Coach Calhoun, UConn has captured 16 BIG EAST Championships, ten regular season crowns and six tournament titles. Even before capturing the 2004 NCAA title, Connecticut basketball under head coach Jim Calhoun had achieved a unique "double", winning the 1999 NCAA Division I National Championships as well as the 1988 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Championship. When he arrived at Connecticut as the 17th head coach of men's basketball on May 15, 1986, Jim Calhoun immediately began to chart a new course for success. He promised to "do it the right way, with no short cuts". He noted he wanted to establish a program at UConn that would annually be called one of the top programs in the nation. Mission accomplished. One collegiate basketball writer, authoring an article on Connecticut basketball for a national publication, said it best when he noted, "Bringing the UConn program to this point from where it was when he took over is nothing short of miraculous". Jim Calhoun ranks No. 9 all-time in NCAA career victories with 43 (40-13 at Connecticut, 3-5 at Northeastern). Coach Calhoun is 43-18 in overall NCAA play (with two NCAA titles). Jim Calhoun's overall career record for national postseason tournament competition is a remarkable 55-22 (48-18 in NCAA play, 12-4 in NIT play). He has coached in the NCAA Tournament 21 times and in the NIT five times (including winning the 1988 NIT title). Calhoun's presentations will focus on: Creating a culture of excellence Overcoming adversity, maintaining flexibility and promoting results-oriented achievement Inspiring individuals to put the interests of the team first Generating success in all areas of life—both personal and professional"
