Brad Calipari joins Kentucky MBB staff as graduate assistant

Brad Calipari will begin his coaching career at the University of Kentucky.

Calipari, son of UK head coach John Calipari, will join the Kentucky men’s basketball staff as a graduate assistant coach for the upcoming 2021-22 season. The former walk-on had been working with the team this offseason at camps leading up to the official announcement.

“I am extremely excited and honored to begin my coaching career at the University of Kentucky,” Calipari announced. “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.

“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. 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’ve had a first-hand chance to see what Kentucky can do for players and their families and I promise to do all that I can to help each one of them achieve their dreams. I do not take this opportunity lightly and appreciate the chance to begin my coaching career at the mecca of college basketball.”

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

Calipari played for the Wildcats from 2017-19 and was a part of a program that won 88 games, advanced to the Elite Eight twice, won a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and two SEC Tournament titles. He finished his collegiate career at Detroit Mercy where he saw action in 33 games over two seasons for the Titans. During the 2019-20 season, Calipari averaged 6.1 points per game and connected on 51 3-pointers.

A 2019 graduate of Kentucky with a degree in communication, Calipari earned his undergraduate degree in three years. He was a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member. At Detroit Mercy he completed a master’s degree in liberal studies in May of 2021. Calipari was a Detroit Mercy Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member and a Horizon League Spring Academic Honor Roll selection.

Calipari will pursue a master’s in kinesiology with an emphasis in sport leadership while as a member of the UK coaching staff.

John Calipari’s squad will return 42.1% of its minutes, 41.9% of its scoring, 39.0% of the rebounds, 42.4% of the assists and 60.6% of the 3-pointers from a season ago. For comparison, the only two Calipari-coached Kentucky teams that returned more minutes and more points (in terms of percentages) than the 2021-22 team is slated to return were the 2011-12 national championship squad and the 2014-15 Final Four team that started the season 38-0.

Adding the Wildcats’ four transfers to the equation, Kentucky’s current 2021-22 roster includes 13,385 minutes, 5,203 points, 1,917 rebounds, 1,132 assists and 543 total 3-pointers in college basketball production.