Kendra Randle, Wife of New York Knicks Star Julius, Shares Moving John Calipari Story

Kendra Randle credited departing University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari for saving the life of her grandmother and in-law of New York Knicks star Julius.

Apr 6, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari (left) and forward / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Kendra Randle took to X to speak about one Kentucky win that did not appear on John Calipari's packed resume.

Calipari made college basketball headlines when reports emerged that he would leave his long-standing head coach post at the University of Kentucky and move on to the University of Arkansas earlier this week. Thus appears to end Calipari's 14-year tenure at the helm of the Wildcats, which featured of talents of several NBA stars, including Julius, Randle's husband who currently reps the New York Knicks.

Kendra credited Calipari for keeping her grandmother alive, sharing a moving story when news of Calipari's reported leave of Lexington began to spread.

"Four years ago, my grandmother was very sick in a small hospital in eastern (Kentucky)," Kendra recalled. "Julius called Coach Cal and asked if there was anyone he knew that could get her transferred to UK hospital. Fifteen minutes later, she was in a helicopter to UK and I still to this day believe he saved her life."

Feb 8, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari has a discussion with / Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Under Calipari's watch, Julius Randle honed his craft as a "one-and-done" prospect in 2013-14. Randle posted 24 double-doubles, the second-best mark in program history behind only Dan Issel, during his single season and helped guide UK to the national championship game at the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, where they eventually fell to the Connecticut Huskies. He was eventually chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers as the seventh pick of the ensuing draft.

Julius Randle, who has reached three NBA All-Star Games as a member of the Knicks, recalled an emotional conversation with Calipari when it came to his draft eligibility in 20123. While modern college basketball has dealt with endless debates about the "one-and-done" phenomenon, Randle said that Calipari, in fact, urged him to leap into the draft pool shortly after the loss in the championship game.

“(Calipari) is going to tell you that, when he comes in your living room. like, ‘I’m not trying to keep you here,' and I can respect that,” Randle told Jack Pilgrim of KSR. “Like, (he says), ‘I’m trying to prepare you for the next level. As a person but as a basketball player as well."

"Cal can’t help himself but to be real," Randle continued. "We played in the national championship that year, right? We lost. So I’m hurt ... So we meet with him and I meet with him that night, and he’s like, ‘Bro, don’t even think about coming back. I’m telling you. There ain’t no reason for you to come back, I’m not letting you come back. If you want to stay here in Dallas? Stay here in Dallas. But you’re not coming back.’"

Calipari leaves Lexington as the second-winningest coach in the program's storied history at 410 beind only Adolph Rupp. He briefly served as an NBA head coach with the New Jersey Nets (1996-99) and also held top college posts at Massachusetts and Memphis.