John Calipari: I plan to coach at Kentucky for the rest of my career
Get breaking news and SI’s biggest stories instantly. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS or Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.
On Monday, coach John Calipari, who has repeatedly denied interest in NBA coaching jobs, gave perhaps his most definitive answer to date on his future at Kentucky.
“My plan is to coach here for the rest of my career,” Calipari wrote in a post on his website. “I want this to be my final coaching position.”
“Kentucky is the gold standard in our sport,” he continued. “It’s been that way throughout the history of our game. It’s one of the reasons I dreamed of one day coaching here. The biggest goal I have — and we all should have — is to make sure Kentucky remains that way.”
Calipari, 60, has coached the Wildcats since 2009 after coming over from Memphis, where he spent nine seasons. Before that, he was the head coach of the New Jersey Nets from 1996–99, and an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers the season after his firing.
When the Nets and Kings had coaching openings in January, rumors connected Calipari to the jobs before he denied negotiating with them.
– Kenny Ducey
