Chin Coleman describes his second-year mindset, relationship with John Calipari

Chin Coleman is comfortable in his role on John Calipari’s coaching staff as he enters his second season as an assistant coach at Kentucky. On Thursday, Coleman explained how he came out of his shell since last year now that he has a full season behind him in Lexington.

“I think last year was just pretty much getting my feet wet,” Coleman described during a summer Q&A on campus. “Learning everybody, just kind of being easy-going and trying to find my role and not step on anyone’s toes and just being a good team player.

“I think in Year 2, my role’s changed a little bit because obviously, I know what’s expected of Coach Cal. I understand the assignment. So I can be more of myself now than I was last year, so you’ll see a little bit more of who I am and myself because obviously I’ve been here now and I understand and my feet are already wet, my teeth are already cut, and my boots are knee deep in what we’re doing here so I can even be more of myself.”

No longer the new guy, Coleman said he is excited about the new challenges and his role changing with the team. Two of those changes, he received a raise and a contract extension in June.

The newcomer on the bench is first-year Kentucky assistant KT Turner.

No social media, no sideline beef with the boss

Also among the topics in Thursday’s conversation with Chin Coleman, his relationship with his boss came up in the line of questioning. A couple of times last season, the television broadcast caught Coleman and Calipari in what we’ll call animated disagreements, but Coleman insists there is nothing but love between him and Calipari.

“It’s crazy that people think that,” he replied when asked about any in-game turmoil on Kentucky’s bench. “So you know, I’m not on social media. I don’t know. I don’t read all of the stuff, which, thank God for me. But I hear about it. I hear about people who think that there’s some rift between (Calipari and me). No. We’re competitors. We’re passionate. It’s a war. It’s in the heat of the battle.”

“We’re great,” Coleman continued. “That’s my dude. I’m excited to work for him and happy that I’m working for Cal. I love what he’s doing for me in terms of my career. But people will think whatever they want to think. It’s just crazy to me that people think that we’ve got some beef or he’s hollering to Chin. No, we’re in battle. We’re trying to win.”

He added, “Chin’s going to be Chin and Cal’s going to be Cal and we’re going to love each other in the same way we always do but if people on the outside believe there’s something going on, come on, man.”

Hear everything Coleman had to say