UConn on the hook to pay Calhoun almost another $3 million

Jim Calhoun will be receiving many more dimes from his state and university through next June. (Getty Images)

Jim Calhoun was bringing in a top-10 salary among his brethren before he retired. And now that he has stepped away, the University of Connecticut will be paying him even more.

The Hartford Courant's Jeff Jacobs waxes on the ironic circumstance with Calhoun going forward. It's antithetical to see a man getting more deposited into his bank account for the upcoming year, not coaching, than he did in his final season on the sideline. In total, a minimum of $2,742,307 is on its way to Calhoun (insert your dime jokes here) between now and next June.

Comparatively, new Huskies coach Kevin Ollie, whose deal expires the first week of next April, will make about 55 grand per month while coaching every second under a microscope.

Here's what Calhoun's options are in the months ahead, when he'll be an adviser for the school and program in many ways:

If Calhoun elects to take a final $1 million retirement payment by the March 15, 2013 deadline, the total compensation rises to about $3.75 million. Either way, Calhoun has enough money to tell you he doesn't give a damn what you think.

In tweets, blogs, broadcasts and stories in the past week, Calhoun's compensation for this fiscal year was reported in myriad ways. On Wednesday, the school confirmed these more complete figures.

By remaining on the job while recuperating from a broken hip sustained Aug. 4 when he fell off a bicycle, Calhoun received the entire $1.3 million due him on Sept. 7, the first payroll period of September, for speaking fees and media appearances. The second of the semiannual payments is due in January, and as part of a transition agreement signed on Sept. 13, the amount was lowered from $1.3 million to $1.15 million.

There's $2.45 million so far.

As part of the 2010 coaching deal, one save a few modifications that is still in full effect until March 21, 2013, Calhoun will receive a $400,000 annual salary, payable in equal installments every two weeks. That would mean he'd receive roughly 75 percent of the $400,000 [$292,307].

There's $2.742 million guaranteed.

According to Article 10.1 of his 2010 deal, Calhoun can choose to accept a $1 million payment or an appointment of up to five years at $300,000 a year. That deadline is set in the transitional agreement at March 15.

Jacobs also points out Calhoun "is guaranteed all but $258,000" of the money he would've received if he'd coached the upcoming season. This is some sort of incredible deal. The twist here is Calhoun wouldn't get $1.3 million of the money owed to him if he'd announced his retirement prior to September -- or in the immediate aftermath of his bike injury.

There's room for cynicism there, but also pragmatism, as Calhoun wasn't physically certain coaching would be too demanding a task until September came. It just so happens that's when the deep injection of that bonus kicked in.

I don't post on this to say Calhoun doesn't deserve the money, either. He has brought intangible amounts of publicity to the school in his nearly three decades on the job. And he'll continue to fund raise and be part of the UConn machine for the foreseeable future. Is that worth it? No one in Storrs would argue otherwise.