In the ten months since the University of Connecticut capped off its Cinderella run through the Big East and NCAA Tournaments with the program's third national championship, the overall mood of Storrs, Connecticut has yet to approach the emotional high following the Huskies' April victory against Butler that set off a rousing celebration in the Nutmeg State.
Currently sitting ninth in the Big East with a 4-5 record in conference play and 14-7 overall mark, UConn will look to snap a four-game losing streak when they play host to Seton Hall at the XL Center. However, the Huskies will be looking to end a stretch featuring six losses in their last eight games with heavier hearts than usual after it was announced today that head coach Jim Calhoun would be taking an indefinite medical leave of absence.
Calhoun, whose 867 career wins rank the Hall of Fame coach sixth all-time, will attempt to recover from spinal stenosis while he is off the bench. Spinal stenosis is a lower back condition that causes severe pain and hinders one's mobility; and Calhoun has battled this affliction for several months, but it had not worsened to this level until just a few days ago.
"Last summer, Jim had some significant back pain and has seen two excellent back specialists," said Dr. Peter Schulman, Calhoun's personal physician. "Jim has been able to manage it with physical therapy and stretching; but over the last several days, things have become worse and he is not able to deal with this on a day-to-day basis. Right now, he is physically unable to coach."
Calhoun will be replaced by longtime assistant George Blaney while he is away, but all victories earned by the Huskies will still be credited to Calhoun's ledger. The legendary head man is the second Big East coach to take an extended medical leave, as St. John's coach Steve Lavin has been away from the Red Storm bench since the fifth game of the year to recover from offseason prostate cancer surgery.
For the 69-year-old Calhoun, this represents yet another obstacle that has been placed in his way; an unfortunate motif throughout his life, and one that makes fans wonder whether or not he would have been better off retiring, as many insiders speculated he would following UConn's improbable run to a national title, and walking away a winner.
However, that's not Calhoun's way. Coaching is virtually all he knows, and he's one of the best in the world at what he does. The man will go as long as he can and as hard as he can, because that's what he's done throughout his career.
From being thrust into the role of man of the house at 15 years old following the death of his father; to leaving college to support his family, (he would eventually return) to his long and well-documented battle with prostate cancer, and even the scandals involving former recruit Nate Miles and current freshman guard Ryan Boatright that really are not his fault, Jim Calhoun is more a survivor than he is a head coach. Regardless of one's opinion(s) toward the University of Connecticut men's basketball program, this has to be respected.
Calhoun and UConn are either loved or hated depending on who you talk to, (the former if it is me) but I would hope almost everyone would be pulling for him to overcome this latest health scare and get back on the bench to lead the Huskies to even further success, perhaps maybe even a fourth national championship in the near future. Calhoun's drive and determination can keep him in this game for another decade. Hopefully his health can be just as cooperative.
Get well, Jim. We wish you all the best.
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