Jim O’Connor-US PRESSWIRE
Jim Calhoun will never be known for turning down a dollar.
In 2009, Calhoun got into an argument during a postgame news conference with Ken Krayeske, a journalist and political activist, who questioned the coach for receiving $1.6 million when the state of Connecticut was facing a major budget deficit. It was during that exchange when Calhoun uttered the infamous words, “Not a dime back.”
It appears as though Calhoun has not wavered from his sense of entitlement to his salary. Jeff Jacobs reported in the Hartford Courant that Calhoun’s decision to retire when he did ensured a hefty payment from the University of Connecticut. He received the entire $1.3 million owed to him on Sept. 7. He retired six days later.
The timing is very fortunate for Calhoun. Some thought by waiting to retire until September that Calhoun was ensuring the University hired his desired in-house candidate, Kevin Ollie. Now it seems there was some financial benefit to the timing of the retirement announcement.
Maybe Calhoun retired when he did because that is simply when he felt he was done coaching. Maybe the timing of the decision was because he wanted to make sure Ollie was hired as the coach. However, the fact that there was a financial gain to be had puts a cloud over the retirement of the basketball legend.
This is quite apropos considering the controversy Calhoun has created throughout his career. Calhoun has brought on sanctions by the NCAA for recruiting violations that have occurred on his watch and he was never known for graduating his players at a high rate as much as he was known for his ornery demeanor. And, of course, he made a pretty penny over the course of his career. All these negative details will be added to Calhoun’s career legacy.
It is difficult to blame Calhoun for trying to increase his career earnings. As Jimmy Fallon has alluded to in his commercials for Capital One, who doesn’t like more cash? It would also be remiss not to note that Calhoun gave generously back to the University and to multiple charities. Nevertheless, the truth remains, Connecticut tax payers paid a high price for three national championships, seven Big East Conference championships and four Final Fours.
