Jim Calhoun

Calhoun developed a reputation for colorful conduct during press conferences. On February 6, 2004, Calhoun exploded in a four-letter word laced ranthttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/EPoEp__IiSE at Dave Solomonhttps://dailyorange.com/2004/01/question-on-gomes-sparks-calhoun-s-tirade/, a columnist for the [[New Haven Register]], who asked about Calhoun's failure to recruit [[Ryan Gomes]] after Gomes and his [[Providence College]] team torched the Huskies.

Calhoun developed a reputation for colorful conduct during press conferences. On February 6, 2004, Calhoun exploded in a four-letter word laced ranthttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/EPoEp__IiSE at Dave Solomonhttps://dailyorange.com/2004/01/question-on-gomes-sparks-calhoun-s-tirade/, a columnist for the [[New Haven Register]], who asked about Calhoun's failure to recruit [[Ryan Gomes]] after Gomes and his [[Providence College]] team torched the Huskies.

Five years later, Calhoun hollered at journalist Ken Krayeske for asking about Calhoun's status as the highest paid state employee in Connecticut.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xokthY5zuPU, https://www.theuconnblog.com/2009/02/22/38234/jim-calhoun-will-not-play-along-with-your-muckraking Calhoun infamously responded "Not a dime back!" to the inquiry about Calhoun's salary and "the state's budget deficit, which is estimated at $944 million for the current fiscal year and up to $8 billion over the next two years." https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=3924716 Gov. [[M. Jodi Rell]] called Calhoun's salary outburst "embarrassing." https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/sports/25iht-bcollconn24.20429758.html The interaction went viral, inspiring an infographic at [[Deadspin.com]] "Is Your State's Highest Paid Employee a Coach? (Probably). https://deadspin.com/infographic-is-your-states-highest-paid-employee-a-co-489635228/ The Huskies fan blog A dime back took its name from the interaction. https://adimeback.com/ At the time, Calhoun's contract paid him $1.5 million annually, even though he told Krayeske "I make more than that."https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/sports/college/2009/03/03/calhoun-proud-big-salary-even/45101755007/

Five years later, Calhoun hollered at journalist Ken Krayeske for asking about Calhoun's status as the highest paid state employee in Connecticut.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xokthY5zuPU, https://www.theuconnblog.com/2009/02/22/38234/jim-calhoun-will-not-play-along-with-your-muckraking Calhoun infamously responded "Not a dime back!" to the inquiry about Calhoun's salary and "the state's budget deficit, which is estimated at $944 million for the current fiscal year and up to $8 billion over the next two years." https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=3924716 Gov. [[M. Jodi Rell]] called Calhoun's salary outburst "embarrassing." https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/sports/25iht-bcollconn24.20429758.html

The interaction went viral, inspiring an infographic at [[Deadspin.com]] "Is Your State's Highest Paid Employee a Coach? (Probably). https://deadspin.com/infographic-is-your-states-highest-paid-employee-a-co-489635228/ The Huskies fan blog A dime back took its name from the interaction. https://adimeback.com/ Calhoun's tin ear in a time of austerity made him a target of mockery, like where fans at [[Marquette University]] put Calhoun's face on a dime.https://www.theuconnblog.com/2009/02/26/38007/uconn-athletic-dept-fights-fire-with-amicable-prepared-statements At the time, Calhoun's contract paid him $1.5 million annually, even though he told Krayeske "I make more than that."https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/sports/college/2009/03/03/calhoun-proud-big-salary-even/45101755007/

Calhoun signed a five-year, $16 million contract until 2014.{{cite web|author=LeAnne Gendreau |url=http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Calhoun-UConn-Agree-to-Contract-93070284.html |title=Calhoun, UConn Agree to Contract Until 2014 |publisher=NBC Connecticut |date=2010-05-07 |access-date=2012-08-04}}

Calhoun signed a five-year, $16 million contract until 2014.{{cite web|author=LeAnne Gendreau |url=http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Calhoun-UConn-Agree-to-Contract-93070284.html |title=Calhoun, UConn Agree to Contract Until 2014 |publisher=NBC Connecticut |date=2010-05-07 |access-date=2012-08-04}} Calhoun's 2025 autobiography, ''More than a Game''https://www.woodhallpress.com/product-page/more-than-a-game, does not discuss the incident.

On April 4, 2011, Calhoun won his third NCAA title as the [[2010–11 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team|Huskies]] defeated [[2010–11 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team|Butler]] [[2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|53–41]]. The victory over Butler made Calhoun, at 68, the oldest coach to win an NCAA Division I men's basketball title. With the win, Calhoun joined [[John Wooden]], [[Adolph Rupp]], [[Bob Knight]], and [[Mike Krzyzewski]] as the only coaches to win at least 3 national championships.

On April 4, 2011, Calhoun won his third NCAA title as the [[2010–11 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team|Huskies]] defeated [[2010–11 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team|Butler]] [[2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|53–41]]. The victory over Butler made Calhoun, at 68, the oldest coach to win an NCAA Division I men's basketball title. With the win, Calhoun joined [[John Wooden]], [[Adolph Rupp]], [[Bob Knight]], and [[Mike Krzyzewski]] as the only coaches to win at least 3 national championships.