Available to book
Jim Calhoun
Team Building
Transform your team into a national powerhouse with Jim Calhoun, speaker, legendary college basketball coach, and Hall of Famer.
Basketball
Author
Cancer Survivor
Jim Calhoun is a college basketball coach with a successful career. Calhoun attended American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he played basketball and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology in 1968. Calhoun began his coaching career at Old Lyme (Conn.) High School in 1968-69, followed by positions at Westport (Mass.) High and Dedham (Mass.) High. In 1972, he became the head coach at Northeastern University in Boston, leading the team to five NCAA Tournament appearances and a 311-183 record in BIG EAST competition over 14 seasons. In 1986, Calhoun joined the University of Connecticut (UConn) in Storrs, where he spent 26 seasons and achieved great success. Under his leadership, UConn won three NCAA Division I National Championships (1999, 2004, 2011), reached four Final Fours, and won seven Big East Conference tournament championships. Calhoun's overall record at UConn stands at 625-243, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. After retiring from coaching in 2012, Calhoun returned to Connecticut in 2018 to become the first head coach of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team. In his first three seasons, he led USJ to a Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. As of the 2021-22 season, Calhoun has a 44-17 record with the Blue Jays.
Topics, sessions and talks
Coach Jim Calhoun, one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history, shares his strategies and techniques for achieving personal and professional success. He emphasizes the importance of leaders becoming master motivators who prioritize team goals over individual interests. Calhoun drives organizations to establish a culture of excellence, focusing on planning, teamwork, overcoming adversity, flexibility, and learning from mistakes. Known for transforming average teams into powerhouses, Calhoun's passionate approach equips leaders with the tools to pave their own path to success. Attendees will learn how to inspire their teams and maintain a winning mindset.
Jim Calhoun covers basketball, teamwork, personal excellence, and leadership, drawing from his coaching legacy. Talks are personalized for your audience and event, offering sports insights.
Jim brings a wealth of experience from his illustrious career in college basketball, offering unparalleled insights into leadership, team building, and overcoming adversity. Booking him as a speaker provides your team or business with the unique opportunity to learn from a Hall of Famer who has consistently achieved success at the highest levels. His engaging storytelling and practical advice will inspire and motivate your group to strive for excellence.
often considered together
Joe Gibbs
High Performance
Team Building
frequently asked questions
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Jim Calhoun draws on his coaching career to frame leadership principles around team-building and performance culture, using his experience of transforming programmes at Northeastern and UConn as the basis for talks that are customised to the specific audience and event.
Jim Calhoun speaks on leadership principles, team culture and motivation, and overcoming adversity in business and sport. He led the University of Connecticut to three NCAA Division I National Championships and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
To get the sharpest shortlist, share your event date, audience, format, key objectives, and budget. A rough idea is enough to start. The more context PepTalk has, the more precisely the team can match a speaker to your brief. Send it via getapeptalk.com.
There is no additional cost to you beyond the speaker's fee. PepTalk's service, from shortlist to on-the-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, the team can agree preferential rates with your procurement department. Email hello@getapeptalk.com to discuss.
Booking a speaker with PepTalk starts with a short brief: your event, audience, date, budget, and format. Send it through getapeptalk.com or hello@getapeptalk.com and you'll get a shortlist within 24 hours. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, fees, travel, and logistics end to end.
Yes. PepTalk regularly handles last-minute requests and can secure or replace a speaker, host, or comedian quickly, often within days. Availability narrows as the date nears, so get in touch as early as you can. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with your requirements.
Speaker fees vary by profile, format, and location. In the UK and Europe, virtual keynotes typically start around GBP 2,000, with top in-person speakers reaching GBP 25,000+; in the US, fees run from about USD 5,000 to USD 100,000+. Share your budget at getapeptalk.com and we'll shortlist to fit.
Yes. If a speaker isn't listed, tell PepTalk their name and the team will approach them for you. The network extends well beyond the public roster, and PepTalk regularly books speakers who don't appear on the site. Email hello@getapeptalk.com with the name.
You'll receive a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours of sharing your brief. Each suggestion comes with profiles, fees, and PepTalk's recommendation on the strongest fit. If you need options sooner for an urgent event, say so and the team will move faster. Start at getapeptalk.com.
Yes. Beyond booking a single speaker, PepTalk helps shape a full programme, matching voices to your agenda, audience, and goals across a day or a series. It is a consultative service, not just a booking. Tell us about your event at getapeptalk.com.
Speaker fees vary based on factors like event location, format, and availability. The 'typical fee range' figure gives you a baseline of someone's local, in-person rate sits, and we'll confirm the exact fee when you get in touch.
Before your speakers arrive, confirm AV is tested, a green room is ready, and printed schedules are on hand. Prepare warm introductions for each speaker and brief your team on timings. PepTalk speakers come fully briefed, making event-day logistics smoother and stress-free from the start.
A keynote speaker delivers an inspiring or informative talk. An MC hosts and guides the event, keeping things on track. Entertainment — like a band or comedian — creates atmosphere and fun. Each serves a different purpose, and PepTalk can help you book the right talent for all three.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. Alongside direct talent, we work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies, to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
When booking a comedian, share your event format, audience size and demographics, any sensitive topics to avoid, and the tone you're after. PepTalk makes this easy — their booking process guides you through a simple checklist so nothing gets missed and your comedian is perfectly matched to your crowd.
When booking a speaker, you'll need your event date, audience details, format, key objectives, and budget. Having these ready makes the process smooth and straightforward. PepTalk's team uses this information to match you with the perfect speaker quickly and efficiently.
Yes! At PepTalk, you can absolutely bundle entertainment and speakers into one seamless package. It's a great way to create a fuller event experience while enjoying simplified booking and better value. Our team handles everything together, making the process effortless for you.
Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.
Yes. Most PepTalk speakers deliver virtual and hybrid sessions with live Q&A, and virtual keynotes usually cost less than in-person because there is no travel. Tell us your platform and format and we'll match speakers experienced in online delivery. Start at getapeptalk.com.
Share your organisation's top 3 strategic priorities, current challenges, and the audience's role in delivering them. A simple one-page brief works perfectly. PepTalk speakers use this context to tailor insights that feel genuinely relevant — making your event far more impactful.
Yes! Most event entertainers are happy to tailor their act to your brand, industry, or theme. From weaving in company jokes to incorporating your branding into their performance, personalisation makes all the difference. PepTalk's entertainers specialise in bespoke experiences that feel made just for your audience.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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