UConn: Calhoun resting after hip surgery

[August 06, 2012]  FARMINGTON, Conn. (AP) -- UConn coach Jim Calhoun has undergone successful surgery to repair a left hip fracture from a bicycle accident.

The university said Sunday that Calhoun was resting comfortably at John Dempsey Hospital at the UConn Health Center. UConn said he is expected to be released in the next few days and will recuperate at home.

The 70-year-old Calhoun was cycling near his summer home in Madison on Saturday when he hit sand and fell, hours before he was to coach some former players in a charity game.

"He hit some sand and he has those shoes that are tied in, clip-ons," associate head coach George Blaney said Saturday.

Calhoun broke several ribs in an accident during a charity bicycle ride in 2009.

Calhoun has led Connecticut to three NCAA titles. Several Huskies were back in the state Saturday to participate in the Jim Calhoun Celebrity Classic game, which was played despite the accident.

Chicago Bulls guard Richard Hamilton, who led the Huskies to the 1999 national championship, said it was a way for the players to say thank you.

"I mean, he's the man," Hamilton said. "You look at everybody that's here right now. He not just produced great players, but he produced us into great people and great men."

NBA stars Ray Allen, Rudy Gay and Kemba Walker were joined at the game by other former UConn greats such as Donyell Marshall and Chris Smith. Allen, who did not speak to the media before the game, acted as an honorary coach after undergoing ankle surgery this offseason.

"It's like a family," Oklahoma City center Hasheem Thabeet said.

It's the latest in a string of health problems for Calhoun. He also has survived skin and prostate cancer, and missed eight games last season because of the effects of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spine, normally associated with aging and sometimes with arthritis.

"He's just had some bad breaks this last year or so," UConn athletic director Warde Manuel said, "and we've just got to hope that he has a speedy recovery."

Calhoun, 873-380 in 40 seasons as a head coach, is expected to return for a 27th season at UConn. He has said he will make his plans known before practice begins in October.

[Associated Press]

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