NCAAB · 1 year ago

Top 10 Kentucky Head Coaching Candidates to Replace John Calipari

John Canady

Host · Writer

Back to the Future: Rick Pitino, SJU
Rick Pitino spent his early coaching career as the head coach of Kentucky, where he was successful. With a 219-50 record as the Wildcats coach, Pitino led the program to a National Championship win and three Final Four appearances. Although the coach would be a fun fit back in Kentucky, it likely won’t be an option that’s considered. At 71, there’s no telling how many years coaching Pitino has left in him, and UK is looking for a long-term answer, not a stop-gap.
Top 10 Head Coaching Candidates to Replace John Calipari
Following Kentucky’s first-round loss to Oakland to begin tournament play, John Calipari’s future with the Wildcats seemed up in the air. However, after meeting with the UK's athletic director, Mitch Barnhart, it appeared another season for Calipari in Rupp Arena would be inevitable, until it wasn’t. On Sunday night, news broke that the longtime Kentucky coach would leave the program to take the head coaching vacancy in Arkansas to lead the Razorbacks. With a vacancy open in one of the biggest basketball programs in the nation, these ten candidates could be considered for the job.
Current Favorite: Scott Drew, Baylor
Scott Drew is rumored to be the primary target for Kentucky’s athletic director, Mitch Barnhart. Drew has put together multiple solid seasons as the head coach of the Bears. Still, perhaps the longtime coach could consider a change of scenery, especially with an opening as appealing as Kentucky. If Drew were to leave, he’d bring a new culture to Lexington, his recruiting skills, and likely multiple transfer players.
Wouldn’t BANK on it: Dan Hurley, UConn
Dan Hurley just led a program he built from the ground up to their second straight national championship. To say the head coach is a top candidate is an understatement. The question isn't whether he would leave UConn but why would he? The Huskies coach is with a program arguably more successful in the past two years than Kentucky has been in the last decade. Not to mention, Hurley is from New Jersey, which would make sense for the head coach to want to stay in the Northeast. However, if Kentucky tried to pry Hurley away from UConn, they would almost have to offer a blank check to entice the 51-year-old.
From NBA to NCAA (Again): Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls
Billy Donovan left the NCAA in 2015 after leading the Florida Gators to back-to-back National Championships as the team’s head coach. And after two stints as an NBA coach, perhaps Donovan will consider returning to his roots and coaching the college basketball program where his coaching journey first began as an assistant. With the Bulls likely to miss the playoffs for yet another season, the experienced coach could be open to a new challenge.
Dark Horse to Watch: Brad Underwood, Illinois
Brad Underwood has quickly turned the basketball program at Illinois around. The head coach has rebuilt the culture at Illinois and put the Fighting Illini in a position to compete for the Big Ten championship moving forward. Not only is Underwood a great leader, but he’s an exceptional recruiter. Being able to bring talent in is half the job, but putting together a team that buys in is one of the most essential parts. And Underwood can do just that. If he’s interested in the job in the SEC, expect Kentucky to give the 60-year-old a call.
Firm no: Jay Wright, TV
Jay Wright was once considered a top coach in college basketball after his championship runs as the head coach of Villanova. The former coach is now an analyst for CBS Sports. Staying around the game, many wondered if the opening at Kentucky would persuade the 62-year-old to come out of retirement. However, Wright answered the question with a firm no on live TV last night ahead of the NCAA Championship game. The former Wildcats head coach stated he’s having "too much fun" in his current role with CBS.
Unrealistic but Perfect Fit: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics
Brad Stevens made his mark in the basketball world as a bright-minded young coach during his time at Butler University. As a result of his collegiate success, Stevens landed a job with the Boston Celtics in 2013 to lead the historic franchise. Following his success in Boston, the Cs promoted the basketball guru to the President of Basketball Operations after the sudden retirement of Danny Ainge. With Stevens in one of the top positions in sports for arguably one of the most successful organizations in the NBA, it’ll be hard to see Stevens returning to the NCAA, especially after his constant comments about having no desire to coach in the near future.
Unlikely but Fun: Shaka Smart, Marquette
Shaka Smart and his representatives opened up the offseason by shutting down rumors of the coveted head coach considering outside jobs. However, that was before a gig like the head coach at Kentucky became available. Smart’s extensive coaching resume alone is impressive, but his time at Marquette has put him in the conversation as one of the best coaches in college basketball. With a 75-30 record in the last three seasons as the Golden Eagles head coach. While it’s still unknown if the 46-year-old would consider the job at Kentucky, he’s worth noting as a possible candidate, with the program likely going after a big fish to fill the role.
Calipari 2.0?: Bruce Pearl, Auburn
Bruce Pearl is another candidate with an impressive resume. And with his recent success at Auburn, it would make sense for Kentucky to go after a head coach who's led his team to an SEC Championship just this past season. With a big personality and next-level basketball IQ, Pearl could be an ideal name in the search for the Wildcats head coaching vacancy.
The Wildcat: Mark Pope, BYU
Mark Pope has been linked as a successor to John Calipari for a while now. The current BYU coach suited up for the Wildcats in Lexington under former head coach Rick Pitino. After leading the Cougars to a 107-49 record since taking over, Pope could be in line to return to his roots and lead a Kentucky program that has fallen short year after year. While he likely won’t be the top candidate on Mitch Barnhart’s radar, he’ll be an option if Kentucky can’t land their top targets.
Back to the Future: Rick Pitino, SJU
Rick Pitino spent his early coaching career as the head coach of Kentucky, where he was successful. With a 219-50 record as the Wildcats coach, Pitino led the program to a National Championship win and three Final Four appearances. Although the coach would be a fun fit back in Kentucky, it likely won’t be an option that’s considered. At 71, there’s no telling how many years coaching Pitino has left in him, and UK is looking for a long-term answer, not a stop-gap.
Top 10 Head Coaching Candidates to Replace John Calipari
Following Kentucky’s first-round loss to Oakland to begin tournament play, John Calipari’s future with the Wildcats seemed up in the air. However, after meeting with the UK's athletic director, Mitch Barnhart, it appeared another season for Calipari in Rupp Arena would be inevitable, until it wasn’t. On Sunday night, news broke that the longtime Kentucky coach would leave the program to take the head coaching vacancy in Arkansas to lead the Razorbacks. With a vacancy open in one of the biggest basketball programs in the nation, these ten candidates could be considered for the job.

Top 10 Kentucky Head Coaching Candidates to Replace John Calipari

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