Jim Calhoun is calling it a career.
The 70-year-old UConn basketball coach will announce his retirement Thursday at a 2 p.m. press conference.
“He’s retiring [Thursday],” a source with direct knowledge told SNY.tv.
UConn assistant Kevin Ollie is expected to take over as head coach, and the source said he was Calhoun’s preferred choice. Ollie played for Calhoun at UConn from 1991-95 and ranks third all-time in assists.
“I think in a perfect world he wanted to walk and have Kevin step into a good situation,” the source said of Calhoun.
Calhoun has had several health issues over the years, including various bouts with cancer and a recent bicycle accident in which he suffered a broken hip.
He has two years left on his contract and told SNY.tv at the Peach Jam in July that he expected to fulfill his contract.
Calhoun is one of only five coaches with three or more NCAA Championships, having led the Huskies to the title in 1999, 2004 and 2011. Over a 40-year-career, including 26 at UConn, Calhoun won 873 games, sixth all-time.
The Huskies are banned from the postseason this year due to APR-related issues.
They recently landed verbal committments from New York-area players Kentan Facey, a forward from Long Island Lutheran and Terrence Samuel, a shooting guard from Brooklyn South Shore.
Asked if this changes anything for Facey, Long Island Lutheran coach John Buck said: “No. Kentan loves UConn and has an excellent relationship with Kevin Ollie.”
