While Kentucky pursues Calipari, Pitino endorses Memphis coach

BasX · Mar 31, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- While Kentucky waits on a decision from John Calipari, former Wildcats coach Rick Pitino says Calipari would do just fine if he takes the job.

Pitino said Tuesday the Memphis coach has the track record to restore some of the luster to college basketball's winningest program.

"He's done a great job at UMass. He's done a great job at Memphis and he would do a great job at Kentucky if that's their pick," Pitino said.

Calipari is considering a seven- or eight-year contract offer worth $35 million to $40 million, reports CBSSports.com Senior Writer Gary Parrish. It would make him the highest-paid college basketball coach.

There had been no decision made early Tuesday. Kentucky spokesman DeWayne Peevy had no comment on the situation.

Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown, who hired Calipari twice as his assistant -- first at Kansas and then with the Philadelphia 76ers -- has talked with Calipari and said Calipari's decision was difficult because he loves Memphis and his players.

"That community, that town, just adores John and respects what he's done. But it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Brown said Tuesday morning after the Bobcats' shootaround.

Brown pushed Calipari to take the Memphis job in 2000, and Brown noted Conference USA was different then with Louisville, Marquette and Cincinnati still in the league. He also thinks Calipari is curious to test himself in a big conference after coaching in the Atlantic 10 and lightly regarded C-USA.

"I think all along he's always been thinking in the back of his head, 'I'd love to be [on a big stage].' And how can anybody fault him? If he leaves, they're going to be upset, but it's because he's done such a phenomenal job," Brown said. "If you leave and you've done a bad job they're happy that you're gone. So you can't win."

Winning has never been a problem for Calipari, who is 253-68 in nine years at Memphis and 446-139 overall. His name has popped up as a candidate for other jobs during his stay with the Tigers, but he has likely never been tempted like this.

Calipari certainly seems to be Kentucky's choice to succeed Billy Gillispie.

The school received permission to talk to Calipari on Monday, though Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said the program would do whatever it takes to keep the coach who has spent the past nine years turning the Tigers into a national power.
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http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11573768

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While Kentucky pursues Calipari, Pitino endorses Memphis coach

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