Hall of Fame Coach Jim Calhoun officially signed his contract Tuesday, assuming the role of head coach for the first ever men’s basketball team at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford.

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Three-time NCAA National Champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Jim Calhoun has officially joined the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) full time and has been named the first-ever Head Coach of USJ Men’s Basketball.

The announcement and signing of his full-time contract took place Tuesday afternoon in the O’Connell Center lobby on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph, alongside USJ President Rhona Free and Athletic Director Bill Cardarelli.

Calhoun, who returns to the sideline with 873 career victories, including 625 while most recently at UConn for 26 seasons (1987-2012) stated, “Whether it’s Division I or Division III, the kids are the kids and the game is the game and I’m looking forward to getting back out on the court and teaching these young men each and every day. I really missed being a part of a team, and we’re preparing for a great first season at USJ.”

University of Saint Joseph President Rhona Free, Ph.D., remarked, “From the first day we started working with Coach, it’s been momentous for all of us – especially our current student-athletes. In terms of recruiting all students, not just student-athletes, he has had what we call the ‘Calhoun Effect,’ and we all enjoyed his talk where he emphasized that for all students, academics are the top priority.”

Assistant Coach Glen Miller will be working alongside Calhoun to get the inaugural men’s basketball team ready for their first season, including the opening game against William Paterson University at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Oosting Gymnasium on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford.

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