Calipari to hire former Wildcats Delk, Padgett
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Updated: 4:44 PM Apr 16, 2009
Calipari to hire former Wildcats Delk, Padgett
Saying he wanted to help them launch coaching careers, new UK coach John Calipari on Thursday said he would hire former Wildcat players Tony Delk and Scott Padgett.
Posted: 11:10 AM Apr 16, 2009
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Saying he wanted to help them launch coaching careers, new UK coach John Calipari on Thursday said he would hire former Wildcat players Tony Delk and Scott Padgett.

"I've done this many times. What happens is with guys like that, they're in positions of assistant strength coach or assistant equipment manager," Calipari said.

Delk is a former Wildcat All-American, who was a 1st-round draft pick of the Hornets in 1996. Delk was instrumental in helping the Wildcats to an NCAA championship in 1996.

Padgett was drafted in the 1st-round by the Utah Jazz in 1999, after leading Tubby Smith's Wildcats to the 1998 NCAA title.

"This is not a money thing," Calipari said. "If you want to get started in this profession, I will help you."

The new coach also said he will have 4-5 guys around every year who want to get into the coaching profession.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Rick on Apr 20, 2009 at 11:51 AM

Yeah Brandon, you are probably right. No former Memphis player ever had any desire to get into coaching and then nothing would be heard about it anyway because there is no coverage by the media of those "non BCS schools". It is funny though how many former Umass players Calipari has had on his staff during his run at Memphis. I guess that long tradition of winning there makes guys more qualified. Finally, yes I understand this is Kentucky and not Memphis - did you read what I said? UK has their way of doing things / wanting them done - and in the long run is not going to waver much from that path. What I am saying is that coach Calipari has his way of wanting things done as well and the two are not always going to jive. This one was minor thing, they will get bigger and who wins out is going to determine the length of his tenure there.
Posted by: brandon on Apr 20, 2009 at 09:53 AM

wow..no one that played at memphis probably wanted to be a coach. and if they did, you wouldnt hear about it like you would at kentucky. anyways, they arent going to be coaches, just involved with the program. that is a good thing when you talk about a program like kentucky. remember, this is ky not memphis
Posted by: Rick on Apr 19, 2009 at 12:22 PM

Plenty of former Memphis players in the same situation as these two. What I suspect happened in this situation was that Cal was pressured into bringing this element to his staff. The obvious difference in the situations is that he has caved to that pressure here at UK but wouldn't at Mem. My point / question then is, Cal does not like to be pressured into doing things - he likes it his way or no way. Is this trend going to bode well for the future? I suspect heads are eventually going to bump and the winner of those confrontations will determine the length of his tenure at UK. Cal wins, he's there are as long as he keeps winning on the court. The administration / booster win he's taking that "early retirement" he spoke of a few days ago! Just MY opinion though - time will tell.
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