Brad Calipari, son of John, starts coaching career with Kentucky

Former Kentucky basketball player Brad Calipari, son of Hall of Fame head coach John Calipari, announced in a five-tweet thread that he is beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Kentucky Wildcats.

“I am extremely excited and honored to begin my coaching career at the University of Kentucky,” Calipari’s first tweet reads. “I would like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way, as I continue to chase my ultimate dream of one day becoming a head coach.”

Calipari, a former shooting guard, played for two seasons under his father John at Kentucky. An unranked recruit, he seldom received meaningful playing time in two seasons, averaging 2.4 minutes and 0.4 points in his two-year Kentucky career.

Brad redshirted the 2018-19 season at Kentucky, saving a year of eligibility while he graduated. He then grad-transferred to Detroit Mercy, where he played two seasons and in the 2019-20 season averaged 6.1 points and just over one rebound in 20.2 minutes per game.

“As a graduate assistant, Brad Calipari will be involved in all on-court activities with the Wildcats including practices, individual workouts and film sessions,” Kentucky’s press release says. “He will also play an integral role with the staff in the development of practice plans and advanced scouting of upcoming opponents.”

The press release also notes that Calipari will pursue a master’s in kinesiology with an emphasis in sport leadership while serving a role with the Kentucky Wildcats’ coaching staff.

Calipari is not the only offseason change to the Kentucky Wildcats’ coaching staff. Former assistant coach Tony Barbee left Lexington on April 23 when he was named head coach at Central Michigan, and five days later on April 28 assistant Joel Justus accepted an assistant coaching role at Arizona State. John Calipari hired two Illinois assistants, Orlando Antigua and Ron “Chin” Coleman to replace the outgoing coaches.

“I already lived one of my dreams in being able to suit up for the greatest fans in the country in the BBN, but now coaching!? Wow,” Brad Calipari continued on Twitter. “The path basketball has taken me has been an incredible one so far individually, but the opportunity to be a part of helping a player change his and his family’s life is my motivation.

“I do not take this opportunity lightly and appreciate the chance to begin my coaching career at the mecca of college basketball. I’m eager to learn from our tremendous staff led by an OK coach. LOL. Not a Hall of Famer or anything,” he joked.