Calipari brings ambitious plans with him to each program

New coach manages to lead communities and players

By Ryan Alessi / ralessi@herald-leader.com

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As a young assistant coach in 1988, John Calipari burst into his interview for the University of Massachusetts head coaching job hauling notebooks that outlined his plan to remake a beleaguered basketball program on and off the court.

He even laid the groundwork for the interview in Amherst by making the unusual move of calling UMass athletics department staff to introduce himself and ask for their support.

That preparation and commitment wowed officials who had brought in some other big names who have become coaching luminaries, such as Texas' Rick Barnes and eventual NBA coach Stu Jackson.

"He came into that interview and absolutely blew the search committee away," said Glenn Wong, a professor of sports management at UMass who served on the panel.

Calipari's sales pitch didn't stop with the hiring, Wong said. A year later, Calipari called the search committee back and handed them a report on how the program fared compared with what he laid out in his job interview.

Measuring success goes beyond a win-loss record, those who have been around Calipari in Amherst and Memphis say.

That includes mingling with fans, courting boosters, suggesting marketing strategies, trying to bolster the players' academic performances and investing in the community.

"It indicates his passion for the program and goal to make the whole program succeed," said Wong, who served as interim athletics director at one point during Calipari's eight seasons at UMass.

In that time, Calipari took the program from a 10-win team to a national championship contender.

Calipari said when he was introduced Wednesday as the University of Kentucky's new men's basketball coach that he understands how high the on-court expectations are at Kentucky. But he said he still believes running a basketball program comes with broader responsibilities.

"I also make a commitment to create an environment that fosters discipline," he said. "And most importantly, my job is to hold players accountable on and off the court."

A people person

Calipari has attracted much attention over the years for his colorful quotes and big personality.

"Although he's flashy and can be brash, he's also got this other side I've seen these last couple years," said Randy Fishman, a Memphis lawyer and a university athletic advisory board member.

Fishman said he once mentioned to Calipari that a good friend was very ill.

"He called him to cheer him up," Fishman said. "He does a lot of things that don't show up in the newspaper."

Calipari keeps up with his former players and colleagues even after they part ways.

He made a surprise visit to Amherst in February 2006 when UMass dedicated its court to former coach and broadcaster Jim Lehman.

And UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. said he was impressed with Calipari when, at the end of his job interview over the weekend, he was able to list the whereabouts of the players from one of his early UMass teams.

That personal connection is often what endears him to the die-hard fans and donors.

"The boosters love him because he knows them. He takes time to talk to them. He knows their grandchildren's names, and he asks about their children," Wong said.

Calipari showed glimpses of that Wednesday. He acknowledged the one-year anniversary of the death of beloved UK equipment manager Bill Keightley, pointed out Herky Rupp in the room and recognized former UK player Richie Farmer as the state's agriculture commissioner.

Engaging the community

Calipari is not the type of coach to remain confined in the gym.

When he found the UMass program almost demoralized in the late 1980s, Calipari embarked on a one-man campaign to fire up students.

"He went into dormitories, and went into the fraternity houses. He wanted kids to have cut-off basketballs on their heads and painted faces," said Howard Davis, who served as Calipari's first sports information director. "Nobody ever heard of that at UMass. He really generated a lot of enthusiasm."

To engage families, he created a group at UMass, the Mini Minutemen, for dozens of 5- to 12-year-olds to practice ball handling skills with the college coaches and perform during halftimes, Wong said.