Jim Calhoun’s seems likely to continue as the UConn head basketball coach.
At least publicly, Calhoun remains non-committal about next season. Though he has said he is working hard now and still loves his job.
“I’m in the business of trying to recruit players to UConn,” Calhoun said after the Huskies’ loss to St. John’s Tuesday. “I love the school and I still love coaching.”
A source told our friend (s) over at the New Haven Register Thursday that “Jim will come back to school” unless “something unforeseen” comes up.
Calhoun’s current contract expires in June.
A UConn spokesman said no definite plans have been made for Calhoun’s future with the Huskies.
“As we have said the entire season, when there is a signed contract we will let people know,” said Kyle Muncy, UConn’s assistant director of athletics for communications. “There is not a signed contract. As he always has, coach Calhoun will evaluate his status at the end of the season.”
Calhoun, the coach’s agent and UConn officials began negotiating a new contract before the season began. At one point before his medical leave, Calhoun indicated he was close to signing the deal. The coach said Tuesday that the offer has been made.
“Yes there is a contract offer out there,” Calhoun said. “I haven’t seen the final copy but it’s out there, yes.”
In case there is any confusion, Calhoun doesn’t necessarily have to choose between signing a new contract and retiring. There is a chance that both could happen.
Whatever deal Calhoun signs will be retro-active to the beginning of the season, meaning that the first year of the contract will essentially end soon after it becomes official. A new contract is also likely to call for a lump-some payment to the coach after the first, second or perhaps third season.
It is therefore possible that Calhoun signs a five-year contract but coaches just two years of it (2009-10 being the first, then perhaps 2010-11) and retires when that a large payment is made. It’s also possible that he signs the new contract and still retires immediately, having officially finished the first year of the contract.
All we know for sure at this point is the Huskies will return to practice Saturday.
They’ll likely get an invite to the NIT Sunday evening and could be playing as early as Tuesday night.
8 p.m. UPDATE: OK, now ESPN.com is reporting that Calhoun “agreed to a four-year contract extension Thursday.”
UConn Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway is in Indianapolis with the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee selecting tournament teams. It’s highly unlikely he was negotiating a new deal for his school’s most prominent coach at the same time, but perhaps Calhoun just finally decided to return.
Has it been signed? Absolutely not.
Calhoun’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, forwarded a statement by Calhoun.
“Let me officially put to rest the speculation about my future at UConn,” Calhoun said in the statement through his agent Thursday night to ESPN. “We are close to finalizing a new contract and I plan on continuing as the head coach of the men’s basketball team for several more years.”
- Neill
