Jim Calhoun

Having completed his 21st season as head coach at the University of Connecticut and 35th year as a collegiate head coach, Jim Calhoun has unquestionably stood the test of time in establishing himself as the greatest program builder in college basketball history.

Jim Calhoun’s coaching success story includes winning two NCAA National Championships (1999, 2004) at Connecticut, passing the elite 700-win plateau, and earning basketball’s highest honor, election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2005.

The beginning of what has become one of college basketball’s greatest coaching achievements—transforming the University of Connecticut into one of the nation’s elite programs—was launched in May of 1986 when Jim Calhoun was named head coach.

Twenty one years later, UConn Basketball sits atop the college basketball landscape with a pair of NCAA National Championships, an NIT Championship, recognition as the most successful program in the history of the Big East Conference with a record-setting 16 league titles, and annual acknowledgement as one of America’s truly outstanding college programs.

In 35 seasons as a head coach on the NCAA Division I collegiate level, Jim Calhoun’s overall collegiate head coaching record is 750-328. That includes a 248-137 record in 14 seasons as head coach at Northeastern (MA) University and a 502-191 mark in his 21 seasons at Connecticut.

In June of 2006, the annual NBA Draft brought the list of UConn accomplishments to new heights again. The University of Connecticut became the first school in the history of the NBA to have five players selected in the first two rounds of the draft and for the first time in school history, the Huskies had four players selected in the First Round. Sophomore Rudy Gay and senior Hilton Armstrong were each selected in the lottery portion of the First Round, while junior Marcus Williams and junior Josh Boone were also selected in the First Round. Senior Denham Brown was taken with the 40th pick in the second round by the Seattle Sonics.

Gay was selected with the No. 8 pick by the Houston Rockets and then traded to Memphis. Armstrong went to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets with the No. 12 selection. Williams was taken with the No. 22 pick by the New Jersey Nets and Boone was taken with the No. 23 selection, also by New Jersey. Brown went in the second round, with the 40th pick, to the Seattle Sonics.

UConn becomes only the third school in NBA history to have four players selected in the First Round of the draft, joining Duke (1999) and North Carolina (2005). The five draftees are the most in school history, surpassing the three Husky picks in 1996 and 1982. UConn has now had a total of 21 players drafted under head coach Jim Calhoun, 14 of those in the first round and nine lottery selections.

The lottery duo of Gay and Armstrong gives UConn nine total lottery selections in the past 12 years and marks the second time in three years that Connecticut has had a pair of lottery picks. Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon each went in the lottery in 2004. Including Charlie Villanueva in 2005, UConn has had five lottery selections in the past three drafts.

In September of 2005, with some 60 of his former players in attendance, Jim Calhoun’s four decade body of work as one of college basketball’s greatest coaches was formally rewarded when the UConn coach was enshrined as a coach into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

On March 2, 2005, Jim Calhoun joined an elite club, becoming one of only 19 coaches in NCAA Division I basketball history to reach the 700-win plateau when UConn beat Georgetown, 83-64.

In his 20 seasons at Connecticut, Jim Calhoun has compiled a stunning 48-15 overall record in national postseason tournament competition (36-11 in NCAA play, 12-4 in NIT play). His 36 NCAA wins at UConn, all achieved in the past 17 years, far outdistances the entire total of four NCAA victories recorded at Connecticut before Coach Calhoun took over the Husky basketball program in the spring of 1986.

Jim Calhoun has led UConn to 14 NCAA bids in the past 17 years, including five straight appearances. Under Coach Calhoun’s direction, UConn has never lost a NCAA First Round game and UConn is a stunning 25-3 in NCAA First and Second Round competition since 1990. The Huskies have earned 11 NCAA Sweet 16 berths in the past 17 years, seven Elite Eight appearances, two NCAA Final Four trips and two National Championships.

Under Coach Calhoun, UConn has captured a league record 16 BIG EAST Championships, ten regular season crowns and six tournament titles. The Huskies are 28-14 in BIG EAST Tournament play under Calhoun.

Even before capturing the 2004 NCAA title, Connecticut basketball under head coach Jim Calhoun had achieved a unique "double", winning the 1999 NCAA Division I National Championships as well as the 1988 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Championship.

Jim Calhoun is the only coach in the history of the BIG EAST Conference to have been named BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year four times. He earned his first BIG EAST Coach of the Year award in 1989-90 and also won the honor following the 1993-94, 1995-96 and 1997-98 seasons. John Thompson of Georgetown and Lou Carnesecca of St. John’s each earned the prestigious honor three times.

Now having completed his 34th season as a collegiate head coach, Jim Calhoun ranks No. 9 all-time in NCAA career victories with 39 (36-10 at Connecticut, 3-5 at Northeastern). Coach Calhoun is 39-16 in overall NCAA play (with two NCAA titles).

Jim Calhoun’s overall career record for national postseason tournament competition is a remarkable 51-20 (39-16 in NCAA play, 12-4 in NIT play). He coached in the NCAA Tournament for the 19th time in 2006 and has coached in the NIT five times (including winning the 1988 NIT title).

George Blaney

George Blaney completed his sixth season as a member of the Connecticut basketball staff in the 2006-07 season. He was named the Associate Head Coach in July of 2007.

Blaney brings to the Connecticut staff more than 30 years of coaching experience. He was an All-New England college basketball standout at Holy Cross, scoring 1,012 points in his college career and leading the Crusaders to back-to-back 20-win seasons before graduating in 1961. Blaney was a fourth round selection of the New York Knicks in the 1961 NBA Draft and played during the 1961-62 season with the Knicks.

In the summer of 2003, Blaney was inducted as a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.

Blaney began his coaching career as head coach at Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City, NJ in 1965. He moved into the college coaching ranks two years later when he was named head coach at Stonehill (MA) College. After two seasons at Stonehill, Blaney spent three years as head coach at Dartmouth College before returning to his alma mater and coaching the Holy Cross program for the next 22 years.

While directing the Holy Cross program, Blaney led the Crusaders to three NCAA tournament berths, five invitations to the NIT, and a 357-276 overall record. Holy Cross posted seven 20-win seasons during Blaney’s tenure as head coach.

In 1994, George Blaney joined the BIG EAST Conference and spent three seasons as head coach at Seton Hall. He departed the college coaching ranks to become Vice President of Basketball Operations for the International Basketball League in 1998. He remained in that post for two years before joining the University of Rhode Island as an assistant coach during the 2000-2001 season.

In 30 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Blaney posted an impressive overall record of 459-382.

During his coaching career, Blaney spent 12 years on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and served as the organization’s president in 1993-94. He has earned numerous honors including the 1996 Bob Cousy Humanitarian Award; 1994 Eastern Basketball Magazine’s Man of the Year; 1990 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year; 1982 inductee into the Holy Cross Hall of Fame; 1981 inductee into the Hudson County Hall of Fame; 1980 U.S. Olympic Festival coach; 1977 Eastern Coach of the Year; and 1976 Hugh Greer Memorial New England Coach of the Year.

Born November 12, 1939, Blaney and his wife, Maryellen, have two daughters and three sons, along with five grandchildren.

Emeka Okafor

Born: Sep 28, 1982
Height: 6-10
Weight: 255 lbs.
College: Connecticut
Years Pro: 3
Team: Charlotte Bobcats
Jersey Number: 50
Position: Center-Forward

Lethal on both ends of the court, Emeka is as adept at beating opponents with a low-post move or a mid-range jumper as he is at defending the league’s best scorers. A rebounding machine, both offensive and defensive, Emeka had more consecutive double-doubles in his rookie season than any player since 1969. Since then he has continued to excel at both ends of the court and has career averages of over 14 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. In addition to being one of the NBA’s most talented young players, Emeka is one of the league’s smartest and well-spoken leaders. He not only graduated from the University of Connecticut in three years with a 3.8 grade point average in Finance, he did so while leading the University of Connecticut Huskies Men’s Basketball Team to a National Championship in 2004.

Since being selected second overall in the 2004 NBA draft, Emeka has become the face of the thriving young Charlotte Bobcats franchise. Proud of his Nigerian heritage, Emeka is dedicated to helping stem the rise of HIV transmissions in sub-Sahara Africa. Emeka has chosen to dedicate his personal efforts to partnering with the Safe Blood for Africa Foundation to create the “One Million African Lives Initiative,” which is designed to save 1,000,000 lives over the next five years by cleaning up the blood supply in Africa. Emeka also recently pledged $250,000 to the University of Connecticut Husky Sports Youth program and was recognized in September 2007 by the NBA as the recipient of the Community Assist Award.

• Averaged 14.4 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game and 2.6 blocks per game in 2006-2007 for the Charlotte Bobcats

• 2004-2005 NBA Rookie of the Year

• Led all NBA rookies with averages of 15.1 points and 10.9 rebounds in 35.6 minutes per game in 2004-2005

• Recorded 19 straight double-doubles from November 21, 2004 to January 1, 2005 during his rookie season

• Played on the United States team for the 2004 Summer Olympics which finished with the bronze medal in Athens

• Drafted in the first round (2nd overall pick) of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats

• Named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 2004 after leading the University of Connecticut to its second national championship

• Named 2004 Co-National Player of the Year by the NABC and First Team All-American by the AP after averaging 17.6 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game and 4.1 blocks per game

• Graduated with honors (3.8 GPA) with a degree in finance from the University of Connecticut after only three years in May 2004

• Had his number (50) retired in February 2007 at the University of Connecticut

• Named the Academic All-American of the Year in 2004 for his work on and off the court

• Averaged 22 points, 16 rebounds and 6 blocks in his senior season at Bellaire High School in Bellaire, TX (2000-2001)

Paul Pierce

Born: Oct 13, 1977
Height: 6-7
Weight: 235 lbs.
College: Kansas
Years Pro: 9
Team: Boston Celtics
Jersey Number: 34
Position: Guard-Forward

Since entering the NBA in 1998 with the Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce has remained one of the league’s biggest stars and one of its best crunch-time performers. His leadership extends off the court where Paul has worked tirelessly within the community to better the lives of young people in the Greater Boston area and his hometown of Los Angeles. Paul is a six-time NBA All-Star and consistently ranks among the league’s scoring elite.

His game is a package of grace, power, and speed honed from countless hours of practice and competition from the playground basketball courts of Los Angeles to the gyms at Inglewood High School and the University of Kansas. In only his second season, the 2001-2002 campaign, Paul tallied more than 2,000 points, becoming the first Celtic to accomplish this feat since Larry Bird in 1988. The following season, as he helped lead the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Division Finals, Paul became the first Celtic in team history to finish as the league leader in total points scored (2144), prompting Lakers Star Shaquille O’Neal to give Paul the nickname 'The Truth'. Paul’s star shines just as bright off the court as evidenced by his ongoing community service initiatives in the Boston and Los Angeles areas.

In 2002, Paul formally announced the creation of his charitable foundation – The Truth Fund. The organization’s mission is to provide educational and life-enriching opportunities for disadvantaged youth. The vision of the Fund is to ensure that opportunities are available for young people to recognize their dreams through mentoring programs, technology and other educational needs as well as to foster stable and safe environments for children. Paul has been working with the Tufts-New England Medical Center and this past year helped them unveil the Paul Pierce Center for Minimally invasive surgery. He was also just named to the hospital’s Board of Governors. His outreach efforts were recognized in 2002 when he received the NBA Home Team Community Service Award stemming from his community initiatives. As part of the award, the NBA and the Fannie Mae foundation donated $50,000 in Pierce’s name to the Project Hope charity in Boston.

Since entering the NBA in 1998 with the Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce has emerged as one of the league’s brightest stars and a cornerstone of the resurgent franchise. On the parquet floor, Paul is the Celtics “go-to-man” as the team’s leading scorer and captain.

His leadership extends to his off-the-court activities where Paul has worked tirelessly within the community to better the lives of young people in the Greater Boston area and his hometown of Los Angeles.

• Averaged 25.0 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game and 4.1 assists per game for the Boston Celtics during the 2006-2007 season

• Scored a career high 50 points in a loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 15, 2006

• Has career averages of 23.6 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists per game in nine seasons with the Boston Celtics

• 6-time NBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• Holds the Boston Celtics franchise scoring record for consecutive games with at least 30 points (12 games)

• Became the first Celtics player since Larry Bird to reach 2,000 points in a single season in 2000-2001

• 1999 NBA All-Rookie First Team

• Drafted in the first round (10th overall pick) of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics

• Named First Team All-America by the Associated Press after his junior year at the University of Kansas (1998)

• Averaged 16.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his three seasons at the University of Kansas and earned MVP honors in the Big 12 Conference Tournament in both 1997 and 1998

• Founded The Truth Fund in May 2002 which is aimed at providing educational and life-enriching opportunities for underprivileged youth by offering resources and programs that foster safe and stable environments

• Received the 2002 NBA Home Team Community Service Award which included a $50,000 grant to donate to the charity of his choice.

Charlie Villanueva

Born: Aug 24, 1984
Height: 6-11
Weight: 232 lbs.
College: Connecticut
Years Pro: 2
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Jersey Number: 31
Position: Forward

One of the most versatile and talented big men in the NBA, Charlie Villanueva’s basketball career began at Blair Academy where he was named the New Jersey State High School Player of the Year in 2003. After pulling his name out of the NBA Draft, Charlie attended the University of Connecticut where he earned Big East All-Rookie honors and the Huskies won the 2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship. In the summer of 2004, Villanueva was a member of the gold medal-winning United States 21-and-under team at the World Championships. Charlie was drafted as the seventh overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors.

He enjoyed a successful rookie season, averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 81 games, 36 as a starter. He ranked second among all rookies in points and rebounds, third in blocks and minutes, seventh in field goal percentage and eighth in steals. His rookie campaign was further highlighted by an appearance in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend, NBA Rookie of the Month honors for the month of December 2005, and a spot on the All-NBA Rookie First Team. Charlie is an active spokesman for the NAAF (National Alopecia Areata Foundation), which is aimed at helping those who suffer from Alopecia Areata, a rare skin condition that he suffers from. In March 2006, the NBA recognized his efforts by giving him the prestigious league’s Community Assist Award for the month of February. He also received the Community MVP award by the Toronto Raptors in October 2005 and again in November 2005.

• NBA Rookie of the Year Runner Up (May 2006)

• NBA All-Rookie First Team Honors (May 2006)

• Toronto Raptors Rookie Record: Single-Game 18 Rebounds (April 2006)

• Toronto Raptors Rookie Record: Single-Game 48 Points (March 2006)

• NBA Rookie of the Month (December 2005)

• NBA Cares Community Assist Award (February 2006) and Toronto Raptors Community MVP Award (October 2005 and November 2005)

• NBA Draft Lottery Seventh Pick (June 2005)

• Member of the NCAA National Championship Team – University of Connecticut Men’s Basketball Team (April 2004)

• McDonald’s High School All-American (March 2003)

• New Jersey State High School Player of the Year (March 2003)

Marcus Wiliams

Marcus Williams plays for the NBA's New Jersey Nets. In the 2006 NBA Draft, he was the 22nd player selected in the 1st round. Prior to the NBA, he played for Coach Calhoun at Connecticut. An extremely gifted point guard, he is known for his tremendous court vision and excellent passing.

Hilton Armstrong

Born: Nov 11, 1984
Height: 6-11
Weight: 235 lbs.
College: Connecticut
Years Pro: 1
Team: New Orleans Hornets
Jersey Number: 12
Position: Forward-Center

Hilton Armstrong, the 2005-2006 Big East Defensive Player of the Year and first round pick by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2006 NBA Draft, is looking to put his stamp on the league. A tough and athletic shotblocker, Hilton averaged 4.1 blocks per game in Big East play in 2005-2006. While playing stingy on “D” on the court, Hilton is generous off it, donating $10,000 to New Orleans’ Girls and Boys Town, an organization that operates two emergency shelters and family-style group homes in the New Orleans area.

• Averaged 3.1 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game in 11.3 minutes per game as a rookie for the New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets in 2006-2007

• Had career highs of 17 points and 9 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons on November 15, 2006

• Drafted in the first round (12th overall pick) of the 2006 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets

• Averaged 9.7 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 61% from the field at the University of Connecticut in 2005-2006

• 2005-2006 Big East Defensive Player of the Year

• Averaged 4.1 blocks per game in Big East play in 2005-2006

• Averaged 3.8 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game as a junior in 2004-2005

• Averaged 14.1 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.6 blocked shots and 2.1 assists as a senior (2001-2002) for Peekskill High School in Peekskill, NY

• Helped lead Peekskill to the 2002 New York State Class B Championship game, earning All-Tournament honors after scoring 11 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in title game loss

• Donated $10,000 to New Orleans’ Girls and Boys Town, an organization that operates two emergency shelters and family-style group homes in the New Orleans area

Donny Marshall

Donny Marshall was a player known for his quickness, athleticism and toughness. One of Coach Calhoun's all-time favorites - this former University of Connecticut and NBA veteran is a major part of the FSN New England Boston Celtics broadcast team.

Marshall's six-year NBA career included seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Jersey Nets. Marshall was the 39th overall pick of Cleveland in the 1995 NBA Draft and played in 119 NBA games.

Marshall was an outstanding power forward for Coach Jim Calhoun and the Huskies from 1991-94. Marshall shot 47 percent in 121 career games, averaging 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Marshall is a graduate of Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington.

Andre LaFleur

Andre LaFleur completed his third season as an assistant coach and his sixth year on the UConn Basketball staff in 2006-07. He spent three seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations before moving into the assistant coaching role beginning with the 2004-05 campaign.

LaFleur is a graduate of Northeastern University where he was one of the nation’s premier point guards. A native of Los Angeles and a product of Governor Dummer Academy in South Byfield, Mass., he was a prime recruit for then-Northeastern head coach Jim Calhoun in a class that included Wes Fuller and Reggie Lewis.

The impact of that freshman class at Northeastern was instantaneous. The Huskies romped through their conference schedule with a perfect 14-0 mark and an overall record of 27-5. They won the ECAC North Atlantic title and went on to the NCAA Tournament. This pattern continued throughout his career as every year the Huskies won the league crown and went on to the NCAAs. From the 1983-84 season through LaFleur’s senior year of 1986-87, the team boasted a conference record of 60-6 and an overall record of 102-26. During one stretch, the Huskies won 38 consecutive home games.

LaFleur played 4405 minutes in 128 consecutive games - more minutes and more games than any other Northeastern player, past or present. LaFleur scored 1143 career points, graduating as the 10th all-time leading scorer in NU history and he is a member of the Northeastern Hall of Fame. He registered 89 steals as a senior and 252 for his career, both still Northeastern records. His total of 894 career assists set a new NCAA record in 1988 and he still ranks 12th in NCAA history. As a junior and senior, LaFleur was named All-Conference, while serving as a tri-captain with Fuller and Lewis. As a freshman, he made the conference All-Rookie Team.

LaFleur was a fifth-round draft pick of the Houston Rockets in 1987 and lasted until the team’s final cut of the preseason. He then played and coached professionally in Australia and overseas for 11 seasons. After completing his professional career, Andre took a position as School Sports Coordinator for the Sydney City Basketball Association.

Born March 22, 1965, Andre, and his wife Alana reside in Manchester and have two sons, Adonis and Adrian.

Patrick Sellers

Patrick Sellers completed his third season as the Director of Men’s Basketball Operations at the University of Connecticut in 2006-07 and was promoted to the position of assistant coach in the spring of 2007.

Sellers came to Connecticut after spending the 2003-04 season as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts, where he served as a recruiter and was instrumental in the development of the UMass frontcourt.

Patrick is the older brother of former Husky standout and team captain Rod Sellers, who played at UConn from 1989-1992.

Sellers moved to UMass from his alma mater, Central Connecticut State University, where he spent four seasons with head coach Howie Dickenman, a former UConn assistant coach. Patrick helped the Blue Devils to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2002, winning the Northeast Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championship in both of those seasons. During his time as an assistant coach at Central Connecticut, his responsibilities included recruiting, inside player development, scouting and assisting with on-court practices. He also served as a co-director of the Howie Dickenman Basketball School.

Prior to his time at Central Connecticut State, Sellers served as the head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain, Conn. In his first season as the varsity head coach in 1998, Sellers led the Saints to a Northwest Conference Championship. His team also made back-to-back appearances in the state playoffs during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Sellers originally joined the basketball staff at St. Thomas Aquinas in 1994 as the junior varsity coach and an assistant under head coach Jerry DeGregorio.

A 1991 graduate of Central Connecticut State with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Sellers served as the Blue Devils captain during his senior season, and was named East Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1991. He led the team in rebounding in both his junior and senior seasons, finishing his career with 581 rebounds. He played professionally in Europe in the British Basketball League during the 1992-93 season.

Born December 28, 1968, Patrick resides in Vernon.

Beau Archibald

Beau Archibald was named the Director of Men’s Basketball Operations on June 11, 2007.

Archibald brings a variety of coaching and playing experience to the Husky program, including three seasons as a member of the UConn squad as a student-athlete. Archibald was a medical redshirt in 1998-99 as he recovered from surgery on both knees for patella tendinitis. He saw action in nine games for the Huskies in 1999-00. During the 2000-01 season, Archibald worked as an assistant to the coaching staff while still on scholarship.

Archibald has spent the past five seasons working as an assistant coach on both a full-time and volunteer basis. In 2006-07, Archibald worked as an assistant coach at Florida International University. He was an assistant coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2005-06 and served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Hugh Durham at Jacksonville University in 2004-05. In 2003-04, Beau was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida Atlantic University. He assisted the coaching staff on a volunteer basis at Texas Tech University in
2002-03.

Archibald earned his bachelor of arts from UConn in May of 2003 and earned an associate degree from Utah Valley State College. He spent his freshman season at Washington State in 1996-97, playing in 29 games at the Pac-10 school and averaging 6.1 points per contest. He played in only nine games in 1997-98 at Utah Valley State before undergoing the first of three knee surgeries in January of 1998. He also had knee procedures performed in January of 1999 and April of 1999 while at Connecticut. His knee injuries finally forced him to end his collegiate playing career prior to the 2000-01 season at UConn.

Archibald was born on December 19, 1976 and is a native of Los Angeles. He attended high school in Arizona and Utah while his father, the late Lynn Archibald, coached at Utah, Idaho State, BYU and Arizona State. He was the head coach at Idaho State (1977-82) and Utah (1984-89). His brother Damon is an assistant coach at New Mexico State and has also coached at Iowa State, USC, Pepperdine.