BREAKING: John Calipari says goodbye to Kentucky
John Calipari’s time at Kentucky has come to an end, the Hall of Fame coach announced Tuesday afternoon.
After 15 seasons in Lexington, Coach Cal says a new voice and leader is necessary for the fans and this program as he looks ahead to what is next.
“Since our season ended, Ellen and I have spent a lot of time thinking about our time here at Kentucky. What it means to us, the friends we’ve made,” Calipari said. “On that court, regional championships, conference championships, Final Fours, the national title in 2012, it’s been a beautiful time for us. This is a dream job, it was my dream job. Anybody in our profession looks at the University of Kentucky in basketball and says, ‘That is the bluest of blue.’
“The last few weeks we’ve come to realize that this program probably needs to hear another voice, that the university as a whole has to have another voice giving guidance about this program that they hear. And the fans need to hear another voice. We’ve loved it here, but we think it’s time for us to step away and step away completely from the program. There have been opportunities that have been presented to us and we’re discussing them as a family. I love coaching, I love coaching young people. This year’s team, I loved every day walking in. They’ve invigorated me. I love the chase for championships. I love bringing the kids together, it’s what I do and it’s who I am.
“Let me start, though — I’ve got to thank the players and the families that I’ve had the privilege of coaching because they’ve entrusted me with their son and their your son’s career. What they’ve done in the classroom, over 30 guys who have graduated, six in three years. What they’ve done in this community to give back to the state of Kentucky. They gave all of us everything they had on the basketball court and off the basketball court and I am indebted forever until the wheels fall off. And I think they all know that. I’m not going to bring up names because if I bring up one I’ve got to bring up 50.
“And lastly, thanking staff, all the people that worked to help us have the success we’ve had all the people in the university as a whole in all the things that they did. The friends, we’ve made lifelong friends that we will be close with the rest of our lives. And the fans, the BBN, all that you’ve done to build this program, the people that traveled with us. I want to thank you. Hopefully it was an experience with your kids that you can look at and say, ‘Man, this is something that we will remember the rest of our lives together.’ Those memories and what we were able to do together is what this is all about.
“It’s been a dream, what we’ve been able to do. But 15 years? It’s time for another voice and you know I’m always going to be a fan. Thank you.”
Mitch Barnhart released a statement, as well, thanking Coach Cal for his time in Lexington while adding the program is working to bring in a “proven, highly dedicated coach” to replace him.
“We’re appreciative of John Calipari leading our program for the last 15 years, adding to the legacy of championship success at Kentucky. We’re grateful to John for his many contributions to the University, and our state, both on and off the court,” Barnhart said. “We are working diligently to hire a proven, highly dedicated coach who embraces the importance of this program to our fans and the state of Kentucky.”
Calipari’s time at Kentucky concludes with a 410-123 overall record, a run that includes four Final Fours and a national championship in 2012.
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