Jay Wright gives 'firm no' on Kentucky job before national championship
John Calipari will not be the head coach at Kentucky next season, taking the Arkansas job, a five-year deal expected to be finalized and announced publicly Tuesday.
Former Villanova coach Jay Wright says he won’t be roaming the Kentucky sidelines, either, giving a firm no regarding his status as a potential replacement ahead of the national championship game.
“Well, I appreciate that Kenny and I am so happy doing this,” Wright said on TBS. “I’m telling you right now. I like being Kenny’s coach. Even thought I’m not Chuck’s coach yet. I haven’t earned that yet. I’ve haven’t earned that yet. But I love being Kevin’s coach and I say this. Chuck, to your point about John running his course.
“What John Calipari has done in Kentucky, it’s not just the recruiting, the Final Fours, it’s getting guys to the NBA, taking care of their families. It’s their big blue Midnight Madness, having Drake come in, having the top recruits in the country every single year. That program is known worldwide.”
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Wright added that Coach Cal’s replacement will have his hands full looking to take care of roster management in the world of NIL and the transfer portal, something that is easier said than done.
“And it always was but he took it into this this new generation and did an incredible job,” he said. “That guy that replaces him is going to be in a really difficult position to cover all the areas of college basketball. He’s a college basketball genius. What he did and recruiting and bringing in all those pros and all those guys that come back to Kentucky makes that program as strong as ever. Whoever comes in is coming into a super strong program.”
When Seth Davis looked for a “firm no” from Wright, he confirmed.
“Yes, yes,” Wright said. “Told ya, I’m Kenny’s coach.”
The coach who won national championships at Villanova in 2016 and 2018 says he won’t be entertaining the Kentucky job — at least publicly.
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