Coaching Legend Receives Huge Honor At West Hartford College

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Jim Calhoun may have been enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame for his coaching at the University of Connecticut, winning three national titles in the process.

But when players at the University of St. Joseph take to the court at its West Hartford campus, they'll be playing in the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium.

That was made official Thursday night when the USJ Blue Jays hosted a ceremony inside the O'Connell Center to officially name its gymnasium after Calhoun.

Of course, USJ athletics didn't take long to give the newly named gym a new nickname, calling it "The Jim."

After a hall of fame coaching career that started at Northeastern University in the early 1970s and continued at UConn from 1986-2012, Calhoun came out of retirement in 2018 to coach USJ.

In doing so, he became the school's first men's basketball coach, as his hiring marked the school's becoming a co-educational university.

He retired from that job following the 2021-22 season, with longtime coaching buddy Glenn Miller now at the helm.

"Celebrating the University's 90th anniversary this year, University of Saint Joseph became fully co-educational in 2018," said the university in a statement. "Jim Calhoun came out of retirement to help build a top-notch men’s basketball program and to recruit well-qualified, well-rounded, college-bound men."

In their inaugural season, 2018-19, the fledging Blue Jays won 16 games and earned a spot in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship game.

For the 2019-20 season, their second year under Calhoun’s leadership, the Blue Jays went 26-3, won the GNAC Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, "bringing national attention and pride to USJ," wrote the university.

"Calhoun’s vision for the future inspired the renovation and expansion of the O’Connell Athletic Center, and the creation of the new gymnasium there and the creation of the Jim Calhoun Legacy fund for student scholarships, academic support and improvements to USJ facilities," wrote USJ.

The event featured many invited friends and family of Calhoun and the return of some of his past UConn players such as retired NBA player Emeka Okafor, Fox Sports Analyst Donny Marshall and Rutgers Men's Basketball Coach Steve Pikiell.

In addition to the name on the wall of the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium, he was presented with an official proclamation from West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor.

For the USJ Blue Jays Facebook page, click on this link.

For Jim Calhoun's coaching biography, click on this link.