Calipari Speaks Glowingly of Several Staff Members

Arkansas coach John Calipari spoke glowingly of several of his staff members during his preseason preview press conference with media on Tuesday.

The Hall of Fame head coach brought several members of his Kentucky staff with him from Lexington to Fayetteville, added his son, Brad, after a one-year stint at Vanderbilt, and retained Ronnie Brewer Jr. and Riley Hall off of Eric Musselman’s staff.

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Kenny _____ Payne!

Kenny Payne is most recently remembered for his unsuccessful two-year run at Louisville, but prior to his time with the Cardinals he was regarded as one of the top assistants in the country.

A stealth recruiter and master developer of big men, Payne is now reunited with Calipari, who he spent a decade with from 2010-20

“Kenny and I really work together well, but I’ve done that with other staff members, too,” Calipari said. “I looked at Kenny and said what I want you to remember is you’re Kenny … I used an adjective, Payne. Don’t you forget that.

“I want you to come here and be that same guy. I want you to be who you are. I want you to challenge the kids. I want you to be involved in what we’re doing talking to me offensively and defensively. He gives us an experienced guy that I already know how we work together.”

Tyler Ulis: From Floor General to Rising Star

Former 2016 SEC Player of the Year Tyler Ulis was recently officially announced as a basketball assistant for Calipari and the Hogs.

Ulis was sensational as a player under Calipari, and after a professional career cut short by injuries, spent the last two seasons as a student assistant with him at Kentucky. Ulis will be instrumental in the development of DJ Wagner and Boogie Fland.

“The first time I saw him play, the first thing I said was he’s too small. He’s 5-8, 150. Then the more I watched him, I’m like wait a minute. I’ve never really had small point guards. This guy is different. He’s got something. It’s an easy statement about him, which was ‘If you’re good enough, you’re big enough.’

“He ends up being drafted after two years and I believe he was the lightest player ever drafted in the NBA Draft. Think about that. There’s been somebody smaller, but there’s no one weighing what he weighted.

“Great basketball mind. When he was my point guard, he did a lot of coaching of the team. I never said no to any of his suggestions. He would say something, I’d say I like it, let’s go with it.

“He had the injury in the NBA that set him back. He had a car injury that almost took his leg off. Doesn’t look like he’s going to be able to come back and play. To give him a start, let him get going, be an on the court coach. The kids will respect him.”

Chin Coleman Next Up On Calipari Coaching Tree?

Chin Coleman has been Calipari’s right-hand man for the past three seasons at Kentucky and joins him as an assistant coach at Arkansas. He was previously at Illinois where he developed a reputation as a strong recruiter.

When it comes to who is next on Calipari’s coaching tree to get a head job, Coleman is high on the list.

“I’ve been around him enough to know,” Calipari said. “The basketball. The feel for the game. He’s not afraid to coach. He’s good in recruiting situations in homes. He’s good. He’s driven and wired. You’ve got to be authentic at this stuff. You can’t fake it. He is who he is. And he loves it. Not only that, I think he’ll be really, really successful.”

Retaining Ronnie Brewer Adds Real Value

Razorback fans didn’t have many demands for John Calipari when it came to stipulations for taking over at the helm, but retaining Ronnie Brewer Jr. was about as close as it gets.

Brewer is an iconic figure in Northwest Arkansas who has risen up the ranks as a well-connected recruiter, coach and Pro Hog who has become an invaluable ambassador for the program.

“When you come in, you evaluate and you figure out who needs to be here to help us and who has a feel for what I’m about and what we’re going to be about and the culture. I felt that with Ronnie,” Calipari said.

“He had great support in the community. I knew his ties in recruiting. We need to know in Texas and Dallas and Oklahoma City and St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, in our state, who are the best young players? All the contacts he has.

“And then I want him to make sure he ties us to all the former players. I think you saw we brought some of the guys back that were introduced on the football field.

“I want Ronnie to be that connector for us. He’s done good. The kids respect him. They know him.”