I was alive for Rick Pitino, became a diehard Kentucky fan during the Tubby Smith years, and lived through two years of Billy Gillispie, but Coach Calipari will always be the one I remember most.
He was hired when I was a junior in high school, we won a title my sophomore year in college, and that 2010-2015 run was HISTORICALLY successful and fun.
During those years I was lucky enough to begin writing for Kentucky Sports Radio as an intern. I went on to have my own career as a college basketball coach before eventually getting out in 2019. Since then, I've been able to write for KSR again and follow the journey that is Kentucky Basketball.
Needless to say, basketball isn't just a big part of my life, it is a big part of my livelihood too. Coach Calipari and Kentucky Basketball have a big role in allowing that to be the case. For that, I will always be thankful to Coach.
The end of an era like this is emotional, strange, and hard to fully wrap my head around. However, my love affair with Kentucky Basketball will never waver.
THANK YOU to Coach John Calipari and everything he did during his time with the 'Cats. So many of my favorite memories of the last 15 years are directly related to him and his teams. I'm grateful for that.
Now, it is time to move forward as a program and I'm excited about what is to come next. I'll certainly be along for the ride no matter what.
Go 'Cats!!!
@stephenasmith Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. I guess Derek fisher, ty lue, and Tim Duncan don’t count? Doesn’t matter the skin color to get hired. This is why we have racism in the first place.