I wouldn't, If I'm in that position, I sit Cal down and I tell him what's what, I tell him what his goals for next season are and what I expect and I tell him that I expect him to meet those goals. That includes player retention, bench development and scheduling. I"d tell him I expect the best players out on the floor for winning games in November as well as March and If he balked at that I'd ask him to consider his options at the end of the season.
Then I'd quietly start sending out feelers to gauge interest in coaches, develop a short list and choose the best I could, even if it meant a gatekeeper until someone else came available.
Bottom line if Cal isn't interested in changing to improve UK's position of winning, then keeping him is just delaying the inevitable. Why not pull the band aid off and get the healing process started. Right now we have a coach talking about hitting rock bottom to teach a lesson, he's said in the past that being committed to players means we may lose games and he says that we need to play the biggest cupcake schedule we realistically can in order to give him time to teach players how to play the game. If I'm an AD, I'd tell him that is about the biggest load of bs the coach of Kentucky can say to me at the moment and that isn't what he was hired to do.
I'm sure you expected me to say Beard , Stevens or Few but it doesn't really matter who I say, the issue is more about - is Cal committed to winning or his system? - and his answer would determine what I'd do next. My obligation is to put someone in charge of the UK program that is dedicated to do everything they can to win.
If Cal doesn't want to , next man up
You know that kind of one on one conversation with John Calipari is destined to flat out fail. He is not going to change his coaching style because of what some athletic director says. You might as well ask for his resignation because he will tender it right then and there. So, if you want to run him off, then attempt to preach to him like you outlined. You may get two sentences out before he walks out the door.
What UK fans fail to appreciate is that all of these top shelf players do not come to the University of Kentucky.because of its storied reputation. They come to UK because of John Calipari and they will follow him wherever he goes because he is the coach. During the last several years of Tubby Smith and certainly the two years of Billy Gillespie, UK fans would be thrilled if we signed one or two players in the top 30 and our performance reflected the poor talent that came to UK.
Now. some UK fans are irritated that Cal is not getting his teams to the Final Four at the same rate as he did during his first 6 years. Some fans want to pull the plug and get rid of him. This is nonsense. Cal is “winning“ on par with best teams in the nation. The records affirm this reality as I cited above. Cal doesn’t need the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky needs Cal OR someone of equal or greater abilities. But, who is that person? Who do you believe can come in after Cal and equal or exceed his performance including the handling of the high demands of Big Blue Nation? You, as the AD better make sure you can answer this question and it better turn out to be the correct one or the next message board posts on Rupp Rafters will be coming after you
I’m as frustrated as any UK fan with the play of this year‘s team. I am disappointed UK has not been to the final four in 4 years (this year didn’t count due to Covid) but when I look at UK‘s history with other coaches after Adolph Rupp, I’m very pleased with John Calipari. Joe Hall was never embraced by the UK fans despite the fact he won a national title and went to 3 final fours in 13 years. The fans whined the “B” in Joe’s middle name was for “Boring”. “He wouldn’t let the guards shoot”. “He played methodical throw it inside to the post basketball.” “I’m glad Joe left”.
Joe’s replacement, Eddie Sutton was criticized by the fans for playing slow down “Hank Iba basketball”. “Eddie required a minimum of 7 passes before anyone could shoot.“ “Eddie was a drunk.“ Then, Eddie was gone. Fortunately, Rick Pitino rescued us. He could have had an iconic tenure had he stayed at UK but his ego wouldn’t let him. He went downhill thereafter.
Tubby was constantly ripped on this board and elsewhere after his his first few years. “Tubby has to go.” “Tubby can’t recruit.” “Fire Tubby in the tunnel.” Tubby left with one national title.
Then, Billy showed up, an apocalyptical disaster. Enough said. When Billy left UK had been nationally irrelevant for a decade. Cal made us instantly relevant. . John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and the others were not coming to UK until Cal became the coach. UK has been more highly profiled than at any time since Rick Pitino was the coach.
Cal’s teams have always improved. This year will be no different. I’ve yet to see anyone make the case that Cal should be replaced and that their coaching selection will equal or improve upon Cal’s success.
