"My best advice to you: Shut up!": When Jim Calhoun destroyed a reporter for questioning his $1.6 million UConn salary

Former UConn men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun led the Huskies to three national titles in his 26-year career. He signed a lucrative 6-year, $9 million contract in 2005, which entitled him to a $1.6 million annual salary in the final two years of the deal, as per Uconn Huskies' official website.

But during a postgame conference in February 2009, one reporter questioned Calhoun's $1.6 million salary, and the longtime coach did not take kindly to the inquiry.

"Not a dime back. I'd like to be retired someday. I'm getting tired," Calhoun jokingly replied to the reporter, Ken Krayeske.

Jim Calhoun was the highest-paid state employee in Connecticut at the time. Krayeske pressed Calhoun further about his salary in the midst of a state budget deficit.

"You're not really that stupid, are you?" Calhoun snapped back. "My best advice to you is, shut up. If you want to talk to me outside, I'm more than happy to talk to you. We're talking about basketball."

"Quite frankly, we bring in $12 million to the university, nothing to do with state funds," he added. "We make $12 million a year for this university. Get some facts and come back and see me. ... Don't throw out salaries and other things."

"Get some facts and come back and see me. We turn over $12 million to the University of Connecticut, which is state-run. Next question."

A year later, in 2010, Jim Calhoun signed a 5-year, $13 million contract extension with the university. Under the terms of the deal, Calhoun would receive $2 million in the first year, with the amount increasing to $3 million in the final year.

Jim Calhoun's legendary career at UConn

Jim Calhoun took over the UConn men's basketball program in 1986, a year after Geno Auriemma started with the women's team in Storrs, and both built the school into a national powerhouse.

Calhoun and UConn's first national championship came in 1999 after a dramatic win over Duke. The Huskies won its second title in 2004 and a third in 2011.

Under his watch, UConn has become a perennial NCAA Tournament team. They have made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 12 trips to the Sweet 16, nine trips to the Elite Eight, and four Final Four appearances in his tenure.

Jim Calhoun retired in September 2012 after over 40 years as a head coach, including 26 years in Storrs, where he compiled a 625-243 (.720) record. However, he returned to coaching in 2018 to take over the Division III University of Saint Joseph, coaching there until 2021.