John Calipari Named a Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist
LEXINGTON, Ky.– Entering this week’s Southeastern Conference Tournament with his team firmly in the discussion as one of the nation’s best, Kentucky coach John Calipari was recognized for another stellar coaching job with Thursday’s list of Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Semifinalists.
Calipari finds himself leading a 25-6 Kentucky squad that is ranked No. 5 in the country, is one of only seven teams in the nation to rank among the nation’s top-25 best in both offensive and defensive efficiency and is in the mix for one of the top seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
He’s one of 10 coaches being considered for the 2022 award. Mark Adams (Texas Tech), Ed Cooley (Providence), Scott Drew (Baylor), Steve Forbes (Wake Forest), Greg Gard (Wisconsin), Tommy Lloyd (Arizona), Matt McMahon (Murray State), Bruce Pearl (Auburn) and Kelvin Sampson (Houston) complete the list.
Calipari is already one of just two coaches to win the Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year three times, tied with Duke’s Mike Kzryzewski (1989, 1992, 1999) for the most Naismith honors. Calipari is looking to become the first four-time winner of the award. He last won it in 2015 and holds the distinction of having won the honor at three schools, also Memphis in 2008 and Massachusetts in 1996. In addition, he has been a finalist in 1994, 1995, 2010 and 2012.
Kentucky enters the first week of postseason play as one of the best offensive teams in the country and an underrated defensive unit. UK has five players averaging at least 10.1 points per game and rank in the top-20 nationally in assists per game (16.2), field-goal percentage (.489), offensive rebounds per game (12.9), rebound margin (+10.1), scoring margin (14.4), points per game (80.1) and total rebounds per game (40.3).
Calipari has directed the UK program to 25 or more wins in 11 of 13 seasons at the helm. His teams have captured six SEC Tournament titles and he’s advanced to the Final Four more than any other program (four times) since 2010. At Kentucky, his NCAA Tournament record is 31-8.
With notable wins that include a neutral-site victory in the CBS Sports Classic over North Carolina, a record-breaking 107-79 win over No. 22 Tennessee at home and a dominating victory inside Allen Fieldhouse over Kansas in January, it makes it even more impressive when it’s noted that Kentucky has played just 14 complete games this season at full strength.
This season has featured a few milestones for Calipari.
Calipari earned his 800th career win in 2021-22. At the time he was one of just 22 coaches, regardless of NCAA level of classification, to reach that barrier. Only 14 coaches have done it with at least 10 seasons at the Division I Level.
In reaching the 800-win plateau, Calipari became the fourth-fastest coach to the milestone. He achieved the feat in 1,037 games. Only Adolph Rupp (972), Roy Williams (1,012) and Dean Smith (1,029) did it faster.
Now with 809 career victories, Calipari ranks 10th all-time in Division I on-court victories.
He also surpassed 200 wins inside of Rupp Arena which is the most of any Kentucky coach in the venue. The Wildcats have won 19 straight inside the building dating back to last season and are 18-0 on the year. It marked the 14th time in program history the Wildcats were unblemished in Rupp Arena and the sixth time in 13 seasons under Calipari.
A “players-first” coach with a penchant for helping players reach their dreams, Calipari has guided six teams to the Final Four, led one to a national championship and helped 54 players earn selection in the NBA Draft during his now-30-year college coaching career.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer guided Kentucky to its eighth national championship and his first national title in 2012. In becoming only the second coach in NCAA history to lead three different schools to the Final Four, he has racked over 800 on-court victories and 20 NCAA Tournament on-court appearances.
In his time at Kentucky, Calipari has won more NCAA Tournament games, appeared in more Final Fours, appeared in more Elite Eights, and played in more Sweet 16s than any other coach during the time period.
Among the other major coach of the year honors Calipari has won during his career:
- Three-time NABC National Coach of the Year
- Three-time Naismith National Coach of the Year
- Three-time Sporting News National Coach of the Year
- Two-time Adolph Rupp National Coach of the Year
- Ten-time conference coach of the year (league or media in Atlantic 10, Conference USA or Southeastern Conference)
- 2021 NABC Guardians of the Game Pillar Award – Inclusion
- 2019 Sporting News “Coach of the Decade”
- 2018 NABC Metropolitan Award
- 2015 Associated Press National Coach of the Year
- 2012 Nell & John Wooden Coach of the Year Leadership Award
- 2009 Sports Illustrated National Coach of the Year
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
