Memphis Coach John Calipari stands as the leader in speculation about candidates for the open Kentucky basketball coaching position.
And no reason has yet surfaced to suggest Calipari is not near or at the top of UK’s list.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported in Monday’s editions that Calipari would be open to meeting with UK officials about the job.
That followed ESPN reports of mutual interest between Kentucky and the Memphis coach.
Speculation arose that UK officials met with Calipari on Sunday. If true, the meeting came without the courtesy of asking the Memphis Athletic Director for permission. As of late Sunday night, Memphis spokesman Lamar Chance said UK had not asked for permission.
It’s impossible to say if Calipari is the leading candidate for the job. But there’s reason to think he might be.
Stephen A. Smith of ESPN has put it out there that Calipari is THE candidate on UK’s list. While that makes sense, we caution UK fans to note that Smith also “reported” that Tubby Smith was going to the Philadelphia 76ers late in Smith’s tenure as UK coach.
More importantly. Calipari fits UK’s criteria, as much as its known. UK president Lee Todd and Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart bailed out of their joint news conference on Friday before reporters could ask exactly what they would be looking for in the next coach.
According to former UK All-American Mike Pratt, who provides commentary on radio broadcasts of games and will assist the search, Kentucky wants a coach who can handle all aspects of a high-profile coaching job: Strategy, recruiting, leadership, role model, motivator, public relations man and, in UK’s case, ambassador for the program, university and Commonwealth.
It also can be noted that friends of Calipari spread the word of his interest in the Kentucky job when it came open two years ago. So it’s easy to presume he’s still interested.
Everywhere Calipari coaches, high-profile prospects and victories are sure to follow. He led Massachusetts to the 1996 Final Four (losing to UK in the national semifinals) and Memphis to the 2008 Final Four (losing to Kansas in the championship game).
It’s no secret that there are a few skeletons in Calipari’s coaching closet. His first big star player, Marcus Camby at UMass, was found to have accepted $28,000 from sports agents while playing in college. That caused the NCAA to order UMass to forfeit victories in the 1995-96 season and return money earned from participation in the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
Then there’s William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley, godfather of Calipari’s first star recruit for Memphis, DaJuan Wagner.
Wesley has also gotten at least partial credit for Memphis recruiting Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans. His association with Calipari has raised eyebrows.
When asked about Calipari, people interested in Kentucky’s search quickly defended him rather than express concern about the skeletons. That suggested UK looks favorably upon Calipari as a candidate to replace the fired Billy Gillispie.
29 comments ↓
[...] reports that a source close to Calipari admits the Memphis coach is open to meeting with UK. And here’s Jerry Tipton’s post about the Commercial-Appeal [...]
Calipari will be a fast track to NCAA violations, and whatever titles/Final Fours he brings will have to be vacated.
Don’t let your greed for immediate success blind you from the fact that he is a cheater. Otherwise we’ll be an open Emory Express package away from 1989 all over again.
I’m just really pulling for TRAVIS FORD!!!
Please Bring Travis Home!!!
(HELP US TRAVIS FORD YOUR OUR ONLY HOPE!!!)
Here we go again! Why is it we can’t refrain from
printing anything until we know for sure the fact .
An article printed on rumor as to what someone who is close to the person said is not leaving a whole lot of
space for the truth. Why not wait until the one in question can be quoted.
[...] reports that a source close to Calipari admits the Memphis coach is open to meeting with UK. And here’s Jerry Tipton’s post about the Commercial-Appeal [...]
Please, Coach Cal is about one thing – Coach Cal. He is a self-promoting egotist (not that all good coaches don’t have some ego). Do we really think his personality/style will go over well in Lexington?
What has he won? Last year the talent on the team was enough to beat most their games without any real challenge or coaching needed. This year, beat up the little sisters of the poor and got exposed in the tournament this year. What has he taught – certainly not the essence of shooting free throws or how to handle defensive pressure.
IF john calipari learned from his past problems, then I say go get him. If he can do the job and wants to do the job. all of it. IF not jay wright is a good choice to ask.
john
I’m thrilled that Calipari might be interested! Reading about the negative, punitive style BG brought to UK, Calipari would be just what the doctor ordered. I feel so bad for the young men who had to withstand 2 years under a cloud of negativity. I really do hope Calipari seriously considers the position.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring him on, what else can go wrong.
God help us if they hire Calipari. He has no connection or understanding of UK basketball
Please do not hire this man. He left UMASS in a mess and has been under a cloud at Memphis.
I’ve always thought calamari was slimy and gross. Same goes for Calipari.
Hopefully UK will make it right this time around and come up with a compensation package to lure Calipari to Lexington. The guy can recruit and is fun to watch. For the detractors, the skeletons in the closet were never pinned to Calipari but boosters and others associated with the programs. In Lexington, I pretty sure Ms. Bell would keep closer tabs on the programs than the other schools.
I would hope that Kentucky would NOT look at John Calipari. He has too many skeletons in the closet. Kentucky does not need this shadow over the program again. Does anyone remember the 1980s?
Someone who would breathe and die Kentucky basketball is who I would support. Someone who bleeds blue like John Leslie Pelphrey.
Was not a Billy G fan, but something about Coach Cal makes me grimace and wonder about shady deals. If Barnhart is contacting coaches without getting clearance from ADs, he needs to be fired.
[...] The Herald-Leader’s Jerry Tipton posts that John Calipari is open to talking to UK about job. [...]
Calipari would be a good fit for the Cats. He’s a good recruiter, excellent coach who has built a good program in Memphis. Hope he’ll come into the fold & hopefully the fans will give him time to rebuild the Cats. Calipari would bring excitement back to KY B-ball.
[...] The Herald-Leader’s Jerry Tipton posts that John Calipari is open to talking to UK about job. [...]
Please U.K. do not hire Calipari…he is not trustworthy…do we really want NCAA sanctions again?…he would lead us down that road. Get Travis Ford!!!!
Stephen A. Smith told me personally that Tubby was going to take the Sixers job, so I wouldn’t wager my paycheck on his commentary.
cal-cal could it be, could it be !
please run tell pratt he “fits” us to a tee
oh the kentucky sky is blue again
slick rick is a has been!
C-A-T-S cats,cats,CATS!!!!
If Izzo is even slightly interested, we should wait and speak with him. This guy gets every ounce out of his teams and they never underachieve.
Hi I think Calipari would be a great coach for Kentucky he’s a winner he get’s good players recruiting is big thing
for UK it’s something you have to have to be a winner he can make UK great again !
how about we get out the name of a perfect fit for the uk job. we wouuld have recruits calling us to play at kentucky. pass the name around so those that be pick up on it. oh yea he coaches a great style and is very personable. he is available!
I think it would be smart to also look at Mr. Izzo
We do not need to go down this slippery path. There are many great coaches out there who are squeaky clean and can build a program at UK we can al be proud of.
Tom Izzo, Rick Barnes, hometown boy Darrin Horn or the coach at Pitt would definitely be worth looking at first.
Coach Cal says ” YES ” to UK
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