A long ride for Coach Calhoun

STORRS, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's been a long ride for Jim Calhoun. He came to Storrs 26 years ago and turned a regional program into a national powerhouse.

The three time NCAA Champion leaves on his own terms and will continue to work with the basketball program.

"UConn has won the National Championship in its first attempt," an announcer said of the 1999 title.

He might be the best program builder in the history of sports.

Before Jim Calhoun came along, people outside the northeast thought UConn was a Canadian territory.

Calhoun's Husky teams changed that perception.

Right after being hired from Northeastern in 1986, he turned a bottom dweller in the Big East into a respectable challenger.

"Allen, with Iverson on him, he throws one up and ohhhh, unbelievable," an announcer said.

"Tate George hits shot, make sure to include Calhoun on court afterward."

The Huskies become a national power flirting with trips to the Final Four and thrilling fans with some of the more exciting plays in college basketball.

"By tomorrow night some time there will be 8 teams left in the country, if we can get them this way, I won't be coaching that much longer, if we can get them anyway, we'll take them," said Calhoun.

In 1999, they break through, not only earning the programs first ever trip to college basketball's promise land: the Final Four, but the Huskies beat Duke for the National Championship.

"And UConn has done it, we shocked the world, we shocked the world.. El Amin comes over and says we shocked the world."

However, it was no shock when Calhoun and the Huskies won their second National Championship in 2004.

"UConn wins the National Championship."

And then a third in 2011.

"What a ride for Jim Calhoun."

After that third National Championship Calhoun admitted it might be a great time to leave while on top.

"Coach, you once said a while ago, if you won another National Championship it would be a nice time to ride off into the sunset."

"It would be a great time to ride off into the sunset, but I'm gonna do exactly what I've been true to myself for the past four or five years and that's very simply, celebrate this Championship, make sure we finish up any recruiting we have to recruit, make sure the program's in great shape and then make some assessment as we get down the line," Calhoun said.

As it turned out, he stayed one more season, not ready to give up the fight against looming NCAA sanctions.

In fact, he was never one to walk away from any fight, especially in the press room.

"You're not really that stupid are you?"

"Yeah, I am," said Calhoun.

"My best advice to you, shut up."

"Get some facts and come back and see me, get some facts and come back and see me," Calhoun said.

People who follow UConn basketball often share their favorite Calhoun moment, but for many it was September 2005 when he was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame.

"I want to thank my players, I've had the privilege of coaching you and you have filled my life with so many memories, so many treasures," Calhoun said. "Some you will never know. If you could stand just for a moment, if you ask me how I got here and why I coach. There's your answer."

This summer Calhoun fractured his hip in a cycling accident and prior to that battled cancer and other illnesses, but always won, and returned to the court.

"I wanted to return to my team," Calhoun said. "It was painful watching the games."

And now, he walks away with nothing left to prove and with a coaching record among the best ever and at the highest level. A career to be forever appreciated in Connecticut.