Coach Calhoun is Back...For How Long?

Jim Calhoun, the Hall of Fame men's basketball coach at UConn, was reportedly back at work Thursday.

Coach Calhoun has missed almost three weeks, including seven games, while on a medical leave of absence. University statements specifically ruled out any cancer or cardiac issues as the cause for the leave, but did not specify exactly what was the cause. It is widely assumed that Calhoun was suffering from stress-related issues.

While he is under no obligation to discuss the reasons for his leave, I believe he probably will when he addresses the media after Friday's practice. Will he also discuss his future at UConn?

Just before taking the medical leave, Calhoun and the university had agreed on terms of a 5-year extension of his current contract which was set to expire this summer. However, the contract extension has not yet been finalized.

The University AD pinky swears that this recent medical leave will have no bearing on the extension process, but will Calhoun still sign it?

Coach is 67 years old. His list of recent medical problems is well documented. He is in the Hall of Fame. He has led the Huskies to three Final Four appearances and two national titles. What more does he need to prove to himself or us? He personally built UConn into a basketball powerhouse, but he has to let his baby go at some point.

You would be hard pressed to find someone tougher and more combative than Coach Calhoun...if the ravages of stress were able to knock him out for three weeks, something that cancer could not, then maybe it is time to hang up the gloves and begin the coaching search.

On the other hand, I still vividly remember what it was like when UConn would face Georgetown, St. John's and Syracuse during the first 10 years of Big East play. I appreciate what Coach has done for the University...not just the basketball team, mind you...the entire University. The day Calhoun steps down has been a day I have dreaded for a long time. Is another five years really that much to ask?

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