Many believed John Calipari was nearing retirement as his time at Kentucky wound down. However, he’s more excited than ever about his next opportunity, especially since it offers him the chance to keep making a difference in his players’ lives.
During an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Wednesday, Calipari talked about the possibility of retiring from coaching. He admitted that he has considered it and has a few places in mind where he could retire. “Yeah, well, yeah,” Calipari said about considering retirement. “I don’t know how long that will be. But I’ve always tried to be prepared. I have a few places so that when I’m done, I don’t have to stay put. I can go where I want.”
However, Calipari still has more to give to the game and, in turn, his players. He wants to continue his efforts in impacting their lives through many ways, especially in the NBA Draft. While more victories and titles would be nice and all, focusing on the future’s of them and their families will, in his mind, lead to that anyways.
What I don’t want on my tombstone is wins and championships. Just that he helped a lot of families,” Calipari said. “So I would tell you – I want to help like 30 more families and then I’ll be done. If I do this right, all that other stuff that the fans want, that I want, all the winning and the (championships), that happens if we’re helping a bunch of families.”
“As long as I’m helping young people, supporting families, and changing lives, I feel inspired,” Calipari said. “I’ll be at the draft tonight because it’s like graduation night. I go to watch the students walk across the stage. I get a hug. That’s part of the deal. You’re with me, but when you get up on that stage, I better get a hug.”
Throughout his tenure at UK, Calipari has honed and perfected this approach. In the 2024 NBA Draft first round last night, he celebrated his 49th player selected over the past fifteen years, with 37 picked in the first round, 25 in the lottery, and three at No. 1. This track record has resulted in numerous successful professional careers and billions of dollars in contracts.
It became evident that Calipari’s time in Lexington was likely coming to a close this offseason. However, with that drive still strong within him, he aims to continue making a profound impact on his players and their families, now focusing on the next chapter at Arkansas.
“Look, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” Calipari said. “I wasn’t ready to stop, but I was ready to move forward and get things rolling. Fifteen incredible years, made great friends, won plenty of games, accomplished a lot. I’m just as excited about this new opportunity and eager to see where it leads.”
None of us know. You don’t know whether you’re going to win or lose until you win or lose. So I’m not worried about it. All I’m doing is let me keep preparing these kids.”
