April 5, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) National Co-Coach of the Year as announced by the organization on Sunday.

Calipari led the Memphis Tigers to a 33-4 record and an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16.

Memphis’ 33-4 record marks the fourth-consecutive year Calipari directed his squad to a 30-win campaign. He is the first coach in NCAA Division I history to have four-straight 30-win seasons.

In addition, Jodie Meeks was named a Second Team All-American by NaismithLives.com, one of the web’s hottest basketball sites.

Meeks averaged 23.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game on the season. The junior guard from Norcross, Georgia, led the Southeastern Conference in scoring. He scored at least 40 points in three games, including a 54-point outburst against Tennessee in January.

“Jodie Meeks was quite simply the most improved player in America,” says NaismithLives.com senior writer Adam Stanco. “And his ability to score quickly was unmatched by anyone this season.”