Join us for an unforgettable conversation with Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun, the architect behind UConn basketball’s rise to national prominence. In this wide-ranging interview, Coach Calhoun takes us through his remarkable journey from high school coach to three-time NCAA champion, sharing intimate stories about recruiting Ray Allen, mentoring Kemba Walker, and building championship teams. We explore the emotional highs of UConn’s first national title in 1999, the unprecedented five-game run in the 2011 Big East Tournament, and the special father-figure relationships he developed with players like Caron Butler. Calhoun’s candid reflections on losing his father at 15, his philosophy on building trust with players, and his ability to read body language reveal why he became one of college basketball’s greatest program builders. This conversation isn’t just about basketball—it’s about life lessons from a coaching legend.
⏰ Timestamps:
(00:00:54) - Introduction and welcome to Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun
(00:05:49) - Early coaching career and being cut by Bill Russell
(00:13:30) - The impact of losing his father at age 15
(00:15:09) - The 1990 UConn team that put the program on the map
(00:21:16) - Building UConn into a national powerhouse
(00:25:28) - Special relationship with Caron Butler
(00:28:56) - Recruiting the class that rivaled Michigan’s Fab Five
(00:35:40) - The story behind recruiting Ray Allen
(00:41:26) - Recruiting Israeli players and international talent
(00:46:08) - Emeka Okafor’s academic excellence and basketball IQ
(00:49:59) - What Calhoun looked for when recruiting players
(00:56:36) - OKC Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s start as UConn manager
(01:01:16) - The historic 2011 run with Kemba Walker
(01:07:31) - Comparing his three national championship teams
(01:12:18) - The relief of winning the first championship in 1999
(01:21:21) - Calhoun’s all-time UConn starting five
(01:44:20) - Reflections on career impact and relationships with players
💡Key Topics:
📌 Building UConn basketball from regional program to national powerhouse
📌 Recruiting and developing NBA stars like Ray Allen, Kemba Walker, and Caron Butler
📌 The emotional journey to three NCAA Championships (1999, 2004, 2011)
📌 Coaching philosophy focused on trust, body language, and player relationships
📌 The historic five-game run in the 2011 Big East Tournament
📌 Upcoming book “More Than a Game” about life lessons through basketball
🏀 About Jim Calhoun:
Jim Calhoun is a Hall of Fame basketball coach who led the University of Connecticut to three NCAA Championships (1999, 2004, 2011) during his 26-year tenure. With 873 Division I wins, Calhoun transformed UConn from a regional program into a national powerhouse, coaching 23 future NBA players while becoming one of only six coaches in NCAA history to win three or more national championships.
🎙️ About the JustIn Time Podcast:
The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As a veteran broadcaster, Justin brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
🔔 Subscribe now on any major platform to never miss an episode of these timeless conversations.
#JimCalhoun #UConnBasketball #NCAAChampion #BigEastBasketball #CollegeBasketball #HallOfFameCoach #JustInTimePodcast
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