John Calipari named to Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List

It’s not easy to go from winning nine games in a season to building a top-five team in college basketball, one capable of winning a national title. John Calipari has done just that at Kentucky, and it’s why he has been named to the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List.

With Kentucky sitting at 21-5 on the year and No. 3 overall in the latest Coaches Poll, Calipari is one of 15 coaches being considered for Coach of the Year honors. The UK head coach joins Mark Adams (Texas Tech), Ed Cooley (Providence), Scott Drew (Baylor), Mark Few (Gonzaga), Steve Forbes (Wake Forest), Greg Gard (Wisconsin), Jeff Linder (Wyoming), Tommy Lloyd (Arizona), Bob McKillop (Davidson), Matt McMahon (Murray State), Bruce Pearl (Auburn), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Shaka Smart (Marquette) and Brad Underwood (Illinois) on the list.

Calipari has earned Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year honors three times (1996, 2008, 2015), making him just one of two coaches to win the prestigious award, tying Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (1989, 1992, 1999). The Kentucky head coach was also named a finalist in 1994, 1995, 2010 and 2012.

As a team, Kentucky is ranked No. 3 overall in the latest KenPom ratings, with the Wildcats boasting the No. 6 offensive efficiency and No. 13 defensive efficiency in the nation. Six UK players average at least 9.0 points per game, with the team averaging 80.6 points per contest, good for No. 13 in the nation and No. 4 among Power 5 programs. They also rank in the top-20 nationally in rebound margin (+10.8), scoring margin (+15.9), rebounds per game (41.12), assists per game (16.9), offensive rebounds per game (13.15) and field-goal percentage (.485).

Individually, Calipari secured his 800th career win as a coach this season, making him just one of 22 coaches to hit that mark. He is the fourth-fastest coach to reach that milestone (1,037 games), sitting behind only Adolph Rupp (972 games), Roy Williams (1,012 games) and Dean Smith (1,029 games).

Sitting at 805 on-court victories on the year, Calipari is tied for 13th among coaches in Division I history.

Among the other prestigious honors Calipari has earned during his time as a head coach:

• Three-time NABC National Coach of the Year
• Three-time Naismith National Coach of the Year
• Three-time Sporting News National Coach of the Year
• Two-time Adolph Rupp National Coach of the Year
• Ten-time conference coach of the year (league or media in Atlantic 10, Conference USA or Southeastern Conference)
• 2021 NABC Guardians of the Game Pillar Award – Inclusion
• 2018 NABC Metropolitan Award
• 2015 Associated Press National Coach of the Year
• 2012 Nell & John Wooden Coach of the Year Leadership Award
• 2009 Sports Illustrated National Coach of the Year