JOHN CALIPARI NAMED HEAD BASKETBALL COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
On March 31, John Calipari became the nineteenth Head Basketball Coach in University of Kentucky history. Calipari is the sixth Head Coach at UK in the modern era since the retirement of legendary Coach Adolph Rupp in 1972.
This is Calipari's third NCAA Division One head coaching appointment. He previously coached at the University of Massachusetts (1988-96) and Memphis University (2000-08). Calipari also coached the NBA New Jersey Nets in 1996-99.
Calipari is a three-time Conference USA Coach of the Year, and the winningest coach in Memphis University history. Calipari is also a former three-time Atlantic Ten Conference Coach of the Year. This year, Sports illustrated named him as its National Coach of the Year. He was named Naismith National Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2008. Calipari joins Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski as the only coaches to have won the Naismith Award more than once.
Calipari has popularized the "dribble-drive motion offense" invented by former Pepperdine University Coach Vance Walberg.
Calipari was born February 10, 1959 in Moon Township, PA, near Pittsburgh. He played point guard at North Carolina-Wilmington and Clarion State. He holds a Bachelor's degree in marketing from Clarion State.
Calipari began his coaching career in 1982-85 as an assistant under Ted Owens and Larry Brown at the University of Kansas. In 1985-88 he was an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh under Paul Evans. In 1988, he was named Head Basketball Coach at the University of Massachusetts, and remained there until being named Head Coach and Executive Vice President of the New Jersey Nets in 1996. During the 1999-2000 season he was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was hired by Memphis University as Head Basketball Coach in 2000.
In seventeen seasons as a NCAA Division One head basketball coach, Calipari's record is 446-139 (.762). His record in NCAA Tournament play is 25-10 (.714). His teams have made eleven NCAA Tournament appearances, seven Sweet Sixteen appearances, five Elite Eight appearances, and have reached the Final Four twice. His 2002 Memphis team won the NIT. His 2008 Memphis team advanced to the NCAA National Championship Game before losing to Kansas in overtime.
Calipari is the only NCAA Division One coach to have won 30 or more games in four consecutive seasons. His 2007-08 Memphis team holds the all-time NCAA Division One record for most victories in a single season (38).
Calipari is 50 years old. He and his wife Ellen have three children: daughters Erin Sue and Megan Rae, and son Bradley Vincent.