Where are ex-Kentucky basketball head coaches, assistants? Checking in from Cal to Welch

LEXINGTON — John Calipari and Rick Pitino aren’t just the two most well-known ex-Kentucky coaches still active in college basketball. The pair are two of the biggest names in the sport, as other coaching titans — Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Jim Boeheim and Jay Wright, among others — are enjoying retirement.

But Calipari and Pitino are far from the only coaches with UK ties still working in the industry in some capacity, whether it’s in the pros, college or high school.

Here’s a look at where coaches who once tutored the Wildcats are at now:

Time at UK: Fifteen seasons (2009-10 through 2023-24)

Of note: Kentucky’s most recent leader prior to Mark Pope, former coach John Calipari guided the program for 15 seasons. He left as the school’s second-winningest coach (410 victories), taking home the national championship in 2012 along with four Final Four appearances and 12 SEC crowns (six regular season, six tournament). Calipari has more than 800 on-court wins as a college coach. He’s now in his first season at Arkansas.

Time at UK: Two seasons (2007-08 through 2008-09)

Of note: Though Billy Gillispie had a forgettable two-season reign in Lexington, he’s experienced success elsewhere. Prior to arriving at UK, he built up the programs at Texas-El Paso and Texas A&M, leading the latter to three straight 20-win seasons for the first time in history. He resigned after one season (2011-12) at Texas Tech, where he went 8-23. Gillispie then spent four seasons at his alma mater, Ranger College (a junior college in Texas), before taking over at Tarleton State in March 2020. He’s now in his fifth season with the Texans.

Time at UK: Eight seasons (1989-90 through 1996-97)

Of note: In terms of winning percentage at Kentucky, only Adolph Rupp (.822) bettered Rick Pitino (.814). The greatest highlight of his tenure: capturing the national title in 1995-96, a team on which Pope served as a captain. Pitino took the Wildcats to the Elite Eight, or further, five times in the six seasons in which the team was eligible for the NCAA Tournament. He later put together a sterling run at UK’s in-state rival, Louisville, winning another national title (since vacated) in 2013, one year after a Final Four run. Pitino, who boasts more than 850 on-court victories during his college career, is in his second season at St. John’s.

Time at UK: Eight seasons (2009-10 through 2013-14; 2021-22 through 2023-24)

Of note: Orlando Antigua, now the associate head coach at Illinois on Brad Underwood‘s staff, spent the past three seasons in the same role for Calipari at Kentucky. It was Antigua’s second stint with the Wildcats, as he also was an assistant coach in the first five seasons of Calipari’s tenure in Lexington. Antigua left in 2014 to become South Florida’s coach; he had a 23-55 record with the Bulls before the school dismissed him midway through the 2016-17 campaign.

Time at UK: Three seasons (1986-87 through 1988-89)

Of note: Dwane Casey, who played four seasons (1975-76 through 1978-79) for the Wildcats, served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater during the 1979-80 campaign. He returned to Lexington to work as an assistant for three seasons under Eddie Sutton. Casey later went into the NBA, where he compiled a 494-570 (.464) record in 14 seasons as a head coach, earning the league’s Coach of the Year award in 2018 with Toronto. Casey stepped down as the Detroit Pistons‘ coach following the 2022-23 season and immediately moved into a front office role with the organization. His official title is “senior advisor to basketball operations,” per a team release.

Time at UK: Seven seasons (2014-15 through 2020-21)

Of note: Much of Tony Barbee‘s career has been spent alongside Calipari. Barbee played for Calipari at UMass and then later served as a graduate assistant for the Minutemen. He rejoined Calipari as an assistant at Memphis. After Barbee’s disastrous tenure as Auburn’s coach concluded — he went 49-75 (.395) in four seasons, with an 18-50 mark (.265) in SEC play — he moved to Lexington, working in a variety of roles (special assistant to the head coach, assistant coach and, finally, associate head coach) for Calipari. Barbee now is in his fourth season as Central Michigan’s coach.

Time at UK: Two seasons (2007-08 through 2008-09)

Of note: Jeremy Cox was an assistant during the two-season Gillispie tenure. Cox started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wyoming in 1991. He’s been a college coach ever since, with assistant coaching stints at Texas A&M, South Florida, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Southern Miss, Stephen F. Austin and UTEP. He’s been the head coach at the North Dakota State College of Science, Garden City Community College (in Kansas), Arkansas-Fort Smith and College of Southern Idaho. Cox is in his first season as an assistant at Oklahoma State under former Western Kentucky coach Steve Lutz.

Time at UK: Three seasons (2021-22 through 2023-24)

Of note: Chin Coleman worked alongside Calipari the last three years. Coleman never has been a college head coach, but he’s been an assistant at a number of schools (Colorado State, Bradley, Illinois-Chicago and Illinois) and was Nebraska’s director of player development in 2012. Coleman followed Calipari to Arkansas and is in his first season as a Razorbacks assistant.

Time at UK: Two seasons (2007-08 through 2008-09)

Of note: Glynn Cyprien‘s two seasons with the Wildcats were on Gillispie’s staff. He’s worked at numerous schools across the country and also spent time in the NBA G League. Cyprien, in his first season as a Tarleton State assistant, is working for Gillispie once more.

Time at UK: Five seasons (1989-90 through 1993-94)

Of note: The most successful former UK assistant on this list by a considerable margin, Billy Donovan was a mainstay of Pitino’s first five seasons. He left to become Marshall’s coach and went on to dizzying heights at Florida, where he won a pair of championships (in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007) and becoming the second-winningest coach at an SEC school; he had 467 victories with the Gators, trailing only Rupp’s 876 at Kentucky. Donovan has since disembarked for the NBA, where he spent five seasons as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s coach. He’s now in Year 5 with the Chicago Bulls.

Time at UK: Two seasons (1987-88 through 1988-89)

Of note: Jimmy Dykes was part of UK’s staff during the final two seasons of Sutton’s tenure. His only head coaching job was at his alma mater, Arkansas, where he led the women’s program for three seasons (2014-15 through 2016-17) and posted a record of 43-49 (15-33 SEC). Dykes now is an ESPN basketball analyst.

Time at UK: Four seasons (1997-98 through 2000-01)

Of note: George Felton was an assistant on Kentucky’s staff for the first three seasons of Orlando “Tubby” Smith‘s stint in Lexington. Felton left after the 2000-01 season to join the Indiana Pacers as a scout. Now working for the San Antonio Spurs, Felton is the team’s director of college player personnel.

Time at UK: Three seasons (1997-98 through 1999-2000)

Of note: Shawn Finney was an assistant for Smith at Georgia. When Smith took over at UK, Finney followed. Finney stayed with the Wildcats for three seasons before leaving to become Tulane’s coach. He returned to Lexington and spent the 2006-07 season as UK’s director of basketball operations. Since then, he’s served as an assistant at Central Florida, Manhattan, Marshall and Samford. Finney now is an assistant at Stetson.

Time at UK: Four seasons (2020-21 through 2023-24)

Of note: Bruiser Flint was a member of UK’s program the past four seasons, first as an assistant coach and then assistant to the head coach. He also worked for Calipari at UMass. When Calipari left UMass, Flint was promoted to head coach. Flint later spent 15 seasons as Drexel’s coach. He’s now at Arkansas, serving as the special assistant to the head coach.

Time at UK: 12 seasons (1974-75 through 1985-86)

Of note: A dozen years at Kentucky, with his last season 1985-86. Nearly four decades later, Leonard Hamilton is still chugging along. He’s Florida State‘s all-time winningest coach and also had stints at Miami and Oklahoma State. He’s won more than 650 games in 37 years as a Division I coach.

Time at UK: One season (1987-88)

Of note: An All-SEC performer during his playing days with the Wildcats, Roger Harden was an assistant for his former coach (Sutton) in 1987-88. After that season of college coaching, Harden has stuck with the lower levels of basketball and helping kids learn the game. He now is the coach at Carroll County High in Carrollton after a five-season run at Williamstown High.

Time at UK: Seven seasons (2014-15 through 2019-20)

Of note: Joel Justus came aboard at Kentucky in 2014-15 as the program’s director of analytics. The next season, he became a special assistant to the head coach. His final five seasons with the Wildcats was a seat on the bench as an assistant coach. He then spent one season at Arizona State (2021-22) and two more at N.C. State (2022-23 and 2023-24). Justus now is in his first season as Ohio State’s associate head coach.

Time at UK: Two seasons (2020-21 through 2021-22)

Of note: During his two-season stay at UK, Jai Lucas helped strengthen the program’s recruiting in Texas, landing five-star prospects Daimion Collins and Cason Wallace as well as Sahvir Wheeler (a Texas native) out of the transfer portal. But in April 2022, he left to become an assistant at Duke. He’s now the Blue Devils’ associate head coach.

Time at UK: One season (2023-24)

Of note: Chuck Martin‘s lone campaign at UK was last season, as Calipari hired him away from Oregon. Martin previously worked for Calipari for three seasons at Memphis. Martin served as Marist’s head coach for five seasons (2008 to 2013) and had a tough go of it, finishing 41-118 overall (21-69 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play), including a 1-29 campaign in 2009-10. He’s now in his first season as an Arkansas assistant.

Time at UK: Eight seasons (2009-10 through 2013-14; 2021-22 through 2023-24)

Of note: After three seasons as a UK assistant for Pitino in the mid-1990s, Jim O’Brien left for the NBA. And he never returned to the college ranks. O’Brien led three different teams (Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers) during his time as an NBA head coach. He’s now a senior adviser for the 76ers.

Time at UK: 10 seasons (2010-11 through 2019-20)

Of note: Kenny Payne became a UK assistant in the second season of Calipari’s tenure and remained in the role for the next nine years. Payne then had a historically bad two-year run at Louisville, his alma mater, before reuniting with Calipari at Arkansas.

Time at UK: Five seasons (2002-03 through 2006-07)

Of note: An assistant for the last five seasons of Smith’s time as Kentucky’s coach, Scott Rigot also has worked for South Carolina, UAB, Hawaii and Duquesne. He’s now in his first season as an assistant at Pepperdine.

Time at UK: 12 seasons (2009-10 through 2020-21)

Of note: John Robic was an assistant for Calipari at three different schools (UMass, Memphis and UK) throughout the years. Robic spent 12 seasons at UK, the first seven as an assistant coach and the next five as a special assistant to the head coach. He now works as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs.

Time at UK: One season (2014-15)

Of note: Barry Rohrssen, better known by his nickname, “Slice,” spent just one season with the Wildcats. But what a season it was: the 38-1 campaign of 2014-15. He then left to become the associate head coach at St. John’s under Chris Mullin. Though Rohrssen is no longer coaching, he’s remained around the game as a broadcaster, working for SNY and ESPN+.

Time at UK: Four seasons (1989-90 through 1992-93)

Of note: Herb Sendek was an assistant for UK during the first four seasons of Pitino’s tenure. Sendek departed following the 1992-93 campaign to become Miami of Ohio‘s coach. He’s remained a head coach ever since, with stints at N.C. State and Arizona State following Miami. Sendek now is in Year 9 at Santa Clara.

Time at UK: One season (2009-10)

Of note: Rod Strickland was an assistant on Calipari’s initial UK staff during the 2009-10 season. But following an arrest for drunken driving, he was reassigned to an off-court role within the program. In April 2014, he followed Antigua to South Florida, where Strickland worked as an assistant until the staff was dismissed. Strickland now is in his third season as Long Island University’s coach.

Time at UK: One season (2022-23)

Of note: Calipari tabbed K.T. Turner as his newest assistant in May 2022, filling the spot vacated by Lucas’ departure for Duke. Turner, expected to be a transfer portal recruiting ace for the Wildcats, lasted just one season in Lexington. UT Arlington hired him as its new head coach in March 2023. He’s now in his second season with the Mavericks.

Time at UK: One season (2023-24)

Of note: John Welch, a longtime NBA assistant, joined Kentucky’s staff in the same capacity in May 2023, ahead of Calipari’s final season. He’s now in his first season as Fresno State’s associate coach.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack. 

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