Four Big Names Who Could Replace John Calipari at Kentucky

The NCAA world was shocked to its core this morning when longtime Kentucky males’s basketball coach John Calipari referred to as it quits with this system. Calipari has been with the Wildcats’ program since 2009, and received a nationwide title with the crew in 2012.

He additionally secured the Naismith School Coach of the 12 months award in 1996, 2008, and 2015. His general report of 410-122 is among the greatest in NCAA historical past, and he helped convey notoriety to Kentucky for greater than 20 years. Nevertheless, he has left to grow to be the brand new head coach of Arkansas.

Arkansas had a job opening after former head coach Eric Musselman left the Razorbacks for a similar place with USC. Arkansas may need been scrambling to discover a new coach, they usually ended up with one in every of school basketball’s winningest coaches of all-time.

With Calipari gone, Kentucky will want a alternative. Some large names have emerged as potential candidates already.

ESPN shared an inventory of potential replacements, and it is stacked with nice expertise. First on the listing is Billy Donovan.

Donovan has deep ties to Kentucky, as he served as assistant head coach for this system from 1989-94. There he would ultimately rise to affiliate head coach and had his hand in teaching the crew throughout their Last 4 run in 1993 and helped to construct the championship 1996 crew.

Donovan has an general report of 154-160 with the Bulls in his 4 seasons with the crew and could possibly be on his manner out. Ought to he depart, it could make excellent sense for him to return to Kentucky.

Bruce Pearl is subsequent on the listing. Like Calipari he has an unimpeachable report with Auburn. Since taking up in 2014, Pearl has amassed a 214-119 report, 5 NCAA Match appearances, one Last 4, and a convention match win. He could be an enormous get for Kentucky assuming he needs to hop depart the Tigers’ program.

One other established NCAA coach on the listing is Nate Oats from Alabama. Oats has an general 117-54 report with the college, three NCAA Match appearances, and a Last 4 look. Regardless of solely having taken over in 2019, he might depart the Crimson Tide.

The ultimate large title is Sean Miller of Xavier. Miller coached Xavier from 2004-09, left to teach Arizona from 2009-21, then returned to Xavier in 2022. He helped coach the crew again to the NCAA Match final season. His general report for Xavier is 163-75, which incorporates 5 NCAA Match appearances.

All 4 listed coaches have a wealth of information and spectacular resumes that Kentucky is more likely to pay shut consideration to. Time will inform if this system calls one of many 4, or surprises everybody with one other certified candidate. Both manner, it is going to be powerful changing Calipari.