(AP) - Jim Calhoun retired as Connecticut's basketball coach Thursday, closing a 26-year career at the school with three national titles, an upcoming NCAA tournament ban and no apologies. "I never, ever, ever said that I was mistake free," Calhoun said. "But I always tried to do the right thing." The retirement of the 70-year-old Hall of Famer was announced on the court in Storrs where Calhoun racked up many of his 873 total wins. He thanked everyone associated with the Huskies program - administrators, players, fans and his family - for his team's success, and played down both his health problems and troubles with the NCAA. "There have been some bumps in the road but we are headed in the right direction," he said. Calhoun will take a transition appointment through next spring as a special assistant to athletic director Warde Manuel. When fully retired, he will become head coach emeritus. Calhoun has been slowed repeatedly by illness and accidents in recent years, including a fractured hip last month. He said the hip injury didn't cause him to retire, but gave him time to reflect on whether this would be a good time to leave. Assistant coach Kevin Ollie, who played point guard for Calhoun from 1991-95, will be the Huskies' new coach. His contract runs through next April 4 and he will be paid $625,000. He takes over a team that returns only five players who saw significant playing time a year ago and failed to qualify academically for the 2013 NCAA tournament.VIDEO: UConn coach Jim Calhoun announces his retirementCoach Calhoun's former players sad to see him leave UConn