John Calipari tabbed Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist
John Calipari wasn’t lying last year when he told the world to enjoy Kentucky’s down season.
The Wildcat head coach has come back with a vengeance in 2021-22 following a nine-win stretch in 2020-21. Kentucky is 25-6 on the season and 14-4 in SEC play, sitting on a No. 5 ranking in the AP Poll and a projected two-seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. As a result, Calipari was named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year Award on Thursday morning.
Calipari’s 16-win turnaround is the largest in program history, even if it is a bit deceiving considering how COVID-19 impacted last year’s 9-16 record. But even still, the 63-year old has done an excellent job after revamping his staff and changing his approach to bring in transfers over freshmen. The beginning of the season was a bit rocky and injuries continue to come and go, but Kentucky picked up steam ahead of conference play and has been considered one of the national title contenders ever since.
Additionally, Murray State head coach Matt McMahon was also named a semifinalist. He has the Racers ranked No. 19 in the country at 30-2 on the season in his seventh year in charge. Murray State has already locked up its NCAA Tournament bid, beating Morehead State 71-67 in the OVC Championship earlier this week.
Among the other major coach of the year honors Calipari has won during his career:
- 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
- 2019 Sporting News “Coach of the Decade”
- 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
Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year Semifinalists
Mark Adams – Texas Tech
John Calipari – Kentucky
Ed Cooley – Providence
Scott Drew – Baylor
Steve Forbes – Wake Forest
Greg Gard – Wisconsin
Tommy Llyod – Arizona
Matt McMahon – Murray State
Bruce Pearl – Auburn
Kelvin Sampson – Houston
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