Who would be Calhoun’s assistants?

It’s kind of fun and very intriguing to think that Jim Calhoun, the guy who built UConn into the national basketball power it has become, might be returning to the sidelines as a coach at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford. But Tuesday morning, he told me, he would be “helping out’’ over there, as the school, now co-ed, forms its first men’s NCAA Division III basketball program. St. Joe’s will begin competitive play in 2018.

Dom Amore’s Page One story in The Hartford Courant Tuesday morning prompted me to call Calhoun. But I also wanted to say How-ya-doin’?, since I haven’t spoken to the coach for months and months.

Amore’s story had all the de-

tails. He’s a heck of a reporter/writer and an old friend. Most cogent to my eye was this paragraph: “There would be details to work out, including whether Calhoun could stay at UConn in some capacity and fit TV into his schedule . . . He would have to pick an assistant.’’

Right away I started dreaming. What if Jim took the job and hired Howie Dickenman as his chief assistant? Or Tom Moore? Or Glenn Miller? Would that be a gas, or what? A pipe dream, of course, but . . .

I know this: If Calhoun signed on with St. Joe’s they would have to build a bigger gym, quick. It would have the same effect as that which took place when Coach Bruce Webster recruited the late Manute Bol at the University

of Bridgeport. You simply couldn’t get a ticket in the one season Manute was there..

Calhoun spent 26 years as head coach at UConn, during which his teams won three national championships. How many coaches win even one? Oh, yeah, while he was compiling that elegant record, he won his way into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The man has been fairly busy since retiring from coaching in 2012. He still has a desk at UConn, as an invaluable advisor, and goes to it almost every day. Like Dee Rowe, who also has an office there, he likes the ambiance and the feeling of still belonging. (The irreplaceable Rowe, 88, puts it this way: “I’m glad I still have a uniform.’’)

On Monday, the Jim Calhoun alumni golf tournament at Mohegan Sun and Avon Country Club, which included a soldout concert by John Mel-

lancamp concluded. The weather was fine and a great deal of money was realized for cancer research, adding to the over $8 million previously raised.

“Having the kids back, seeing them again, was fabulous,’’ he said and then talked about the things he loved and loves most, ”the kids and being part of basketball. The game.’’

He’s done some traveling with beloved wife Pat, including a trip to Ireland and much more and he’s enjoyed, since retiring, his on-air stints with ESPN.

It was fun to talk to him and more fun to anticipate what may occur in the future with St. Joe’s

••• CROQUERESULTS » Torrington Country Club’s first annual Croquet Tournament was won by Jennifer Paul. Doubles winners were Steve Minihan and Dick Weigold. And a good time was had by all. Or so I‘m told.