UConn Basketball: 3 Reasons Jim Calhoun Will Return Next Year

After 39 years of collegiate coaching, four Final Four appearances and three national championships, the consensus from most college basketball analysts is that Jim Calhoun should ride off into the sunset after last night’s ugly national title game victory. 

After all, Calhoun is 68 years old, has battled and beaten cancer three times in the last 10 years and faces a suspension and other sanctions next year for NCAA recruiting violations. 

There is something to be said for retiring on top, especially considering that Calhoun has now etched his name amongst the greatest college hoops coaches in history. 

With last night’s victory over the Butler Bulldogs, Calhoun notched his third national title, all at the University of Connecticut.  This achievement puts Calhoun alongside Bob Knight, Mike Krzyzewski, Adolph Rupp and John Wooden as the only five coaches to win three or more national titles. 

That fact solidifies Calhoun’s legacy in college coaching.

Riding off into the sunset is a nice thought for an athlete or coach, but it rarely happens. The competitive blood that flows through their veins is too much to walk away from.  Competition is an addiction.

Think about some examples across the sports spectrum. Michael Jordan couldn’t stay away and returned to the NBA as a Washington Wizard.  Lou Piniella and Joe Torre couldn’t walk away even after successful playing careers and hall of fame coaching careers. They each had to take on one more shot with Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers respectively, before conceding it was time and retiring. 

Then there is the greatest example of the addiction of completion, Brett Favre, whose flip-flopping on retirement is well documented and even fodder for online sketches.

Lance Armstrong, Shaquille O’Neil and Muhammad Ali, all greats in their respective sports, could not overcome the addiction either. 

As good as it might seem for Calhoun to retire while on top, it is not going to happen.  After 39 years of taking the competition "drug," even a third national title won’t satisfy his soul and allow him to quit.  

Here are three reasons why Calhoun will be stomping the sidelines next winter at UConn.

One: Calhoun is a fierce competitor. 

The fire inside of Calhoun has never burned greater than it did this season.  Calhoun faced an intense NCAA investigation throughout much of the season before finally being slapped with a three-game suspension to start Big East conference play next year as well as reductions in scholarships and the disallowance of certain booster money into his program. 

Calhoun’s team struggled through the investigation and Big East play finishing in ninth place.  What did Calhoun do? Got his team ready to play and went on an unprecedented run culminating with five wins in five days at the Big East championship and now a National Championship. 

You could see the fire and passion burning in Calhoun throughout the Big East and NCAA tournament—that fire was only stoked by cutting down the nets last night.

Two: Returning talent. 

The Huskies of Connecticut have six players (minus Kemba Walker) who all started or saw significant playing time throughout the season and in the Final Four who will return to action next winter. 

No doubt Calhoun would love to see Kemba return but that won’t happen.  However, freshmen Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier, Roscoe Smith and Niels Giffey all played more than 22 minutes last night and Tyler Orlander, another frosh who has an upside, saw big minutes throughout the season. 

Additionally, sophomore Alex Oriahki notched a double-double in last night’s title game and should be a force next year on the block.  Adding fuel to Calhoun’s competitive fire will be these five freshmen and one sophomore who played meaningful minutes throughout the biggest games of the year.

Three: He should have retired already. 

After facing and overcoming cancer three times in the last decade as well as missing time due to a nasty bike accident a few seasons ago, I don’t buy that health is a factor for Calhoun. 

This guy is as tough mentally as they come, and if health was a factor in his retirement, he certainly would have stepped away when he was diagnosed and battling cancer—not after he has beaten it and received a clean bill of health. 

Additionally, Calhoun’s teams have gone through some recent struggles. Failing to even make the NCAA tournament a year ago, and prior to this postseason, they hadn’t won a Big East Tournament game in five years. 

If adversity on the court couldn’t put Calhoun’s fire out, there is no way winning the title and giving the NCAA governing body the eff you while doing it will.

Too competitive, too much talent returning and too many chances in the past to walk away all lead to Calhoun returning for a 40th season.