Calhoun should consider all options for health of program, himself
Last season Jim Calhoun missed Connecticut's opening-round game in the NCAA tournament for what were described as stress-related reasons. One source told me at the time that Calhoun seemed so physically ill there was genuine concern if he would coach again in the tourney.
Calhoun missed only one game but his sudden departure from the Huskies is a recurring theme. This past January it was announced that Calhoun was again ill and again taking a leave of absence. In this instance no specific reason was provided other than it wasn't related to heart troubles or Calhoun's three separate bouts with cancer.
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| It might be time for Jim Calhoun to step aside, for his own health and that of the program he built. (Getty Images) |
Calhoun's tenure at Connecticut has seemed immutable, unceasing and eternal despite the recent mysterious leave of absence. Few men in the history of college basketball have meant as much to the construction and palpable dominance of their programs as Calhoun has to the Huskies. Calhoun isn't Bob Knight or Mike Krzyzewski or even Jim Boeheim, but he's close.
It has been one hell of run but it seems as if Calhoun's recent health problems demonstrate his body is breaking down, possibly at a faster rate than he or anyone close to him wants to admit.
The Big East tournament starts this week and Calhoun's recent return is one of its most interesting stories despite UConn's poor play of late. Calhoun's health issues lead to a fair question: Should he step down, not just for his own personal benefit but for the benefit of the Connecticut program he built mostly with his own two hands?
Now, I'm not certain exactly what the latest leave of absence was about. Alleged panic attacks? Simple stress? The kind of stress that felled Urban Meyer? No one knows exactly because no one is saying exactly. At least publicly they're not.
But if you don't see the wear and tear of the game tunneling into Calhoun then you aren't seeing straight. Calhoun's leaves of absence are starting to become less curiosity and more an issue of concern -- and not just for him personally.
Calhoun's health is likely being used against the Huskies by opposing Big East teams in recruiting. High school players are probably being told that UConn's future is in doubt because Calhoun's health is a constant question mark. It's a cruel and heartless tactic but recruiting is often cruel and heartless.
UConn stated Calhoun's January 2008 leave was a combination of stress, exhaustion and gastric issues (he later missed time that year because of treatment for skin cancer). No reason was given for his latest leave other than "temporary medical issues."
One of the best coaches in a generation walks away from the job and no one says why.
There's very little chance a program can maintain continuity when the health status of its leader is a seasonal question mark, particularly when that leader is 67 years old.
Calhoun's absence took the oxygen out of the program, culminating in an embarrassing 75-68 loss to a mediocre South Florida team this weekend in which Calhoun benched his starters.
Calhoun is as blunt as a mallet and my guess is if one of his players were as physically battered as Calhoun, the coach would say in that thick New England accent: You've been a fighter, a warrior, a great producer. I respect your heart. But your body is failing. Maybe it's time for you to look at the big picture.
I'd say the same thing to Calhoun. Maybe it's time, indeed. Maybe, just maybe.
