Kentucky’s Calipari calls for internships for minorities in athletic departments
Responding to social unrest sparked by systemic racism in this country, Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari proposed creating an internship program for minorities in college athletic departments as a way to bring about greater opportunity.
“Are we creating access and opportunities for others in what we oversee …,” Calipari said Friday. “I’m going to propose this to our athletic department.”
The internships would not necessarily be in the athletic department, he said. Media relations, marketing and fundraising could be areas for these internships.
Calipari said he would be a point man for the funding of such a set of internships.
“If we do it at Kentucky, my hope is other schools could,” the UK coach said.
Calipari spoke on a webinar sponsored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. It was titled “Using Your Platform as a Coach During this Critical Time.” The coaches who participated — including Frank Martin of South Carolina and Kelvin Sampson of Houston — were charged with addressing “racial injustice and other important societal issues.”
Calipari said he had been encouraged and discouraged from speaking publicly about racism in this country.
“I’ve kind of been pushed: stay out of it, you’re white,” he said. “I’ve kind of been pushed the other way. You understand as much as anybody. You need to speak out.”
Calipari suggested seeking to help minorities was a form of payback.
“Where I am now is based on African-American families trusting me with their child …,” he said. “Trusting me with their child to dream their dreams, their hopes and desires.”
Of course, the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American, has sparked protests and calls for systemic racism to be addressed.
When asked for his reaction to seeing video of a Minneapolis policeman press a knee into Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, Calipari said, “First of all, there was shock. Then I was sick. How could one human being do that to another human being?”
Calipari acknowledged a limit on how he or any coach could address police brutality.
“I don’t think I have the ability to influence (police work),” he said. “But I can donate to those funds, which I do.
“But my area of influence in my little corner (of the world) is with my own players. How about keeping them safe? How about having NBA security talk to my team about if you’re approached by police, how do you respond?”
Calipari said he had spoken to UK players via Zoom. He added that he has considered bringing in people, including players on other teams, to speak to UK players about racism.
“I’m trying to figure out a way to get our athletes with police, with community in town, with our Urban League friends,” he said. “And, say, let’s lock down a street and let’s do some things together and let’s end with conversation.”
Of his idea of an internship program for minorities, Calipari said he sought feedback from his players.
Keion Brooks Jr., the lone veteran among last season’s regulars returning next season, offered qualified support, Calipari said.
“‘For right now, you’re doing all the right things, Coach,’” Calipari said he heard from Brooks. “‘But it may change. You may need to say different things in another two weeks.’”
It seemed needless to say given the reaction from other coaches on the webinar, but Calipari said he would not let criticism prevent him from speaking publicly.
“I will stand out and take arrows,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I got bazooka holes in my back. So arrows go straight through . . . and they don’t hit anything.”
Martin said education should be part of the solution. But he suggested college basketball has become less about education.
“I think the greatest service we provide to young people as coaches has been completely devalued with the whole one-and-done, zero-and-done (G League), let’s pay them,” the South Carolina coach said. “All that s--- … sounds good.
“But we devalued education.”
Calipari said the necessary change to society is a long-term proposition.
“This is not changing overnight,” he said. “We’ve got to get this right. We have this opportunity now — now! — to get this right.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 6:29 PM.
