Despite move to Arkansas, Tyler Ulis is 'in for life' with Kentucky

Tyler Ulis is in a tough predicament this summer. On one hand, he’s the head coach of La Familia, Kentucky‘s alumni team in The Basketball Tournament, while wrapping up his degree in Lexington. An all-time legend in blue and white as a player, he then got his start in coaching with the Wildcats as a student assistant. All he’s known is Kentucky.

But it’s all been under John Calipari, the coach who gave him his opportunity to shine as a superstar player, then as a coach after a life-threatening car accident forced him to hit pause with his hooping career. That same coach is now giving him his first shot as an assistant coach with one major caveat: it’s at Arkansas, a former SEC rival of his on the court.

Once he graduates and wraps up his time with La Familia and TBT this summer, he’ll be packing his bags and heading to Fayetteville.

“Me and Mark Pope talked a little,” Ulis said when asked if he talked with the first-year Kentucky coach about joining his staff this offseason. “Cal is a guy I feel like really wanted me with him. That’s my staff so there wasn’t much back and forth, but he definitely talked to me. I’m proud of him, I told him congratulations and things like that.

“But Coach Cal was the guy I felt really wanted me and offered me an actual job to come out there and be an assistant coach. I feel like this is just the best route for me.”

He’s not sure yet what his official title will be — “we’re still figuring those things out” — but he knows joining Calipari at Arkansas is the right decision for him and his future.

“There’s no timeframe yet because I’m still in school. I’m waiting to graduate and finish my classes up, but that’s my plan — to go with Coach Cal and go with that staff, keep learning from those guys and try to get better,” he said. “I’m still focused on school, so this is just a great experience and my first opportunity on the big stage. I’m just trying to do the best I can.”

He’ll be trading out his Kentucky blue for Arkansas red, but that doesn’t mean his support for the Wildcats is done — he’s actually got a tattoo honoring his alma mater. His best memories will always come from his time in Lexington and historic journey as one of the greatest point guards to ever play here.

Like his tattoo, that’s permanent.

“That’s for life. I have a Kentucky jersey tatted on my back, so I wouldn’t do that if it wasn’t something that I’m in for life,” Ulis said. “… Being there and playing there, all the love the fans have given me, it’s really great. It’s been a dream come true and we had a lot of fun there.”

And he’ll personally root for Mark Pope and his success at Kentucky, as well. Maybe not in head-to-head matchups as a coach, but the health and growth of the program under his watch.

“We had one conversation early on when he first got the job. I’m happy for him as a Kentucky guy, he has a national title, so hopefully he has something in store,” he said. “We’re still supporters of Kentucky basketball. But I have other things ahead of me with Coach Cal and my staff, so I can’t wait for that.”