Memphis Tigers Basketball

The 31-year old wunderkind strode to the mike and talked about the power of positive thinking. He talked about playing for and coaching under one the legends of the game.

He talked about the coaching opportunity given to him by another one of the greats. He won over the crowd with his good looks (think the Jonas Brother that decided to play sports instead of music) and good copy (on the difference between him and the man he's replacing "I'm Josh Pastner, He's John Calipari").

He talked about winning championships and keeping it rolling (rock'n'rolling actually). He thanked the city, his finance, his athletic director, and all the people in the crowd. Then, as the 31-year-old wunderkind smiled and walked away he shook hands with the 65-year-old dinosaur. It never should have come to this.

R.C. Johnson was named athletic director at the University of Memphis on December 29, 1995 after serving in the same capacity at various schools in his native midwest (Temple, Miami of Ohio, Eastern Illinois).

His first major hire came on March 27, 1997 when he forced out Memphis legend Larry Finch and handed the the keys to the Tiger Basketball program to up-and-coming University of New Orleans coach George "Tic" Price. Two years later Price was forced to resign after admitting to a sexual relationship with a Memphis co-ed. His record was 30-25 (Finch's was 220-130).

A year later Johnson hit the jackpot when he lured John Calipari to Memphis. Calipari was still smarting from his unceremonious exit from the New Jersey Nets and hungry to get back into coaching.

Nobody had an ego like Cal and he was chomping at the bit to remind the world what he was capable of having previously built the UMass program into a Final Four team (which was roughly the equivalent of turning the Washington Generals into the 1996 Bulls).

Two years into Cal's tenure in Memphis the school caught the break it needed when the ACC raided the Big East and stole Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Miami. The Big East was looking to Conference USA to rebuild itself and the University of Memphis seemed in great position to move up to the big time.

Johnson and Co. swung into action, ever determined to better the athletic fortunes of the school. A few months, and a whole lot of campaigning later, the Big East announced it was inviting Conference USA members Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette, DePaul, and...South Florida (?!) to join its ranks. 

The University of Memphis was left behind in a Conference USA that would soon include such athletic luminaries as Rice and Central Florida. Geography, said Johnson, was the reason the Big East didn't want Memphis. "We'll be fine" said Calipari.

Memphis WAS fine. In fact, the basketball program flourished in the new C-USA. The Tigers went to two straight Elite 8's, the National Championship, and the Sweet Sixteen.

The Tigers signed McDonalds All-Americans and repopulated the NBA on a yearly basis. Calipari, ever the salesman, told anybody who would listen that Memphis was a national program; that kids could do everything they could do at a UCLA or Kentucky at Memphis. People laughed at Cal's brazenness till he beat their heads in on the basketball court. Eventually everybody had to listen.

Everybody included Mitch Barnhart, and less than 48 hours after Memphis lost to Mizzou in the 2009 NCAA tournament, Barnhart was gaging Cal's interest in the Kentucky job. A salesman is always looking for an easier sell, and on Mar. 31 Calipari ditched Memphis for the Cadillac that is Kentucky Basketball.

Again, Johnson swung into action. You will not believe the people we're talking to, said Johnson, we're going to make a "wow" hire. 

Six days later the 65-year-old dinosaur had been turned down by somewhere in the neighborhood of 871 coaches and a 14-year-old girl. To listen to media covering the coaching search it would seem R.C. went from college to college carrying a big sack with a dollar sign on it. Coaches would take a picture of the dinosaur and his dollar sack, show it to their ADs, and get a nice raise. 

Out of desperation (quite literally) the dinosaur offered the job to the 31-year-old wunderkind. This took the wunderkind by complete surprise (I was coming to clean out my desk and head to Kentucky he said) but the wunderkind could not turn down such an opportunity. 

Which brings us back to the news conference. To listen to the wunderkind lay out his plans it is impossible not to be struck by his poise, his intelligence, and his vision. It is also impossible not to turn to the dinosaur and realize that he left each of those qualities behind a long, long time ago.

As the Final Four tips off today in Detroit, there are currently two very high profile college basketball coaching vacancies. Arizona was recently turned down by USC's Tim Floyd, while Memphis is currently playing their cards close to the vest.

Instead of writing an article focusing on the predictable candidates for these positions, I want to look at 10 out-of-the box candidates that could fit in at either school.

There is a bit of a misnomer that Memphis is a "high-profile" job, but the reality is that Memphis immediately became a middle of the pack team once John Calipari left for Kentucky and the Bluegrass state.

Not only is Tyreke Evans gone, but so are important contributors Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier, and most importantly, Calipari's heralded recruiting class led by the nation's No. 1 prospect, Xavier Henry.

Despite this fact, Memphis, with the right coach, can continue to dominate Conference USA.

Much like when Indiana surprised everyone and hired Kelvin Sampson several years back, these candidates would be a surprise to many if they were hired at either school.

We have to assume neither school will hire an assistant, so only head coaches will be looked at for these scenarios.

Candidate: 1. Jamie Dixon, Arizona (Pittsburgh)

Dixon could stay at Pitt and be a highly successful Big East coach for as long as he wanted in all likelihood, but the competitiveness of the Big East takes a toll on its teams in the regular season.

Dixon has been an excellent regular season coach for a number of years, but his team has not advanced to the Final Four yet, and this was probably his best chance to date.

Losing Lavance Fields, Sam Young, and DeJuan Blair will make next season a transition year, so if Dixon were to leave, now would be the time. Arizona would be a place where Dixon could go in and continue on the tradition of success left by Lute Olson.

While regional issues might arise when it comes to recruiting, Dixon would be an intriguing selection by Arizona, if he were willing to leave Pitt.

Candidate 2. Sean Miller, Arizona or Memphis (Xavier)

While this would not be a shocking hire, Miller changing time zones would be a big deal. Xavier is in the Atlantic 10, not a power conference, and Miller has probably reached his peak with any Xavier team.

The odds of them advancing past the Elite 8 are slim, although they have come close. Reasons why Miller would make the move to either school would include a huge pay raise, more prestige and better recruits. Memphis may be a bit of a lateral move, but if Miller wants a new challenge, either school would fit the bill.

Candidate 3. Gary Williams, Arizona (Maryland)

Why would Williams ever leave Maryland? It's no secret he had a very public spat with his athletic director this season, and perhaps Williams is tired of hearing the whispers from the fans.

Much like Tennessee's Phil Fulmer, the shine of William's national title has begun to rust, and he would be a perfect successor to Lute Olson. His team's play a somewhat frenetic style at times, something 'Zona fans are used to.

Another factor to consider is the longevity factor: Williams has been at Maryland a long time, and perhaps it is time to move on. I think both parties would be happy with each other in this scenario.

Candidate 4. Kevin Stallings, Memphis (Vanderbilt)

This one would be a shocker to everyone outside the state of Tennessee. The chances of a SEC coach moving to a Conference USA school are slim to none, but Stallings perhaps could foresee a future filled with easier opponents and better recruits.

Stallings is also a proven winner, something Memphis will require when they hire their new coach. Stallings doesn't have a lot of notoriety among college basketball fans, but his coaching ability is not something that can be questioned. Between big SEC victories and Sweet 16 trips, Vandy could be looking for a new coach themselves.

Candidate 5. Mike Brey, Arizona (Notre Dame)

Brey has probably been over-hyped in his time at Notre Dame. His teams score a ton of points, but play defense like the NBA's Golden State Warriors. Brey could come to the sad realization that Notre Dame will never win another Big East title in this era, competing against the likes of Jay Wright, Rick Pitino and Jamie Dixon on a nightly basis.

Arizona fans would embrace Brey's coaching philosophy, and provide Brey a fresh start minus the suffocating pressure he must be feeling after this season's surprising decline.

Candidate 6. Bobby Cremins, Arizona or Memphis (College of Charleston)

This one would be a complete shocker. Cremins has been coaching in relative anonymity for the past few seasons, with his most newsworthy event this season being the defeat of Davidson and Steph Curry in the Southern Conference semifinals.

Who knows if Cremins would relish the chance to leave what must be a relaxing job by the beach. If his competitive juices were to get fired up, perhaps we would see Cremins hired by either school looking to replace a legend with a highly successful veteran coach.

Candidate 7. Randy Bennett, Arizona or Memphis (Saint Mary's)

2008 Co-Conference coach of the year in the West Coast Conference, Bennett would be a solid yet unspectacular hire for either school looking to hire him. The Saint Mary's coach would have to be deemed an "up and comer" type coach.

In seven years at Saint Mary's, Bennett is the winningest coach in the program's history, and this season his team was one of the last team's out of the NCAA Tournament.

If Patty Mills decides to go pro, Bennett would be wise to jump at the chance to coach Arizona or Memphis. 'Zona would make more sense from a regional standpoint, and Bennett would bring with him a proven track record of winning. Along with a jump in pay and job prestige, Bennett could catapult himself onto the national coaching stage with a successful stint at either school.

Candidate 8. Rick Barnes, Arizona (Texas)

Barnes has been mentioned before for high-profile jobs, but thus far he has stood firm in Austin. Perhaps Barnes seeks to escape the shadow of the "football school" label that Texas is undeniably tagged with, and decides to go somewhere where basketball is indeed supreme.

While this would be a lateral move at best, Barnes would continue the winning tradition at Arizona. Barnes is one of a handful of coaches that Arizona fans would endorse as a proven winner.

Candidate 9. Fran McCaffery, Memphis (Siena)

Back to back first round wins in the NCAA Tournament give McCaffery credibility in the eyes of athletic directors around the country and it's only a matter of time before he takes the plunge and moves to a bigger school.

Memphis would be a great fit in the sense that McCaffery wouldn't be stepping into a pressure cooker job like Kentucky. Memphis fans love their basketball, but they would also recognize that a new coach would need a few years to rebuild the team.

Most importantly for McCaffery, Memphis would shower him with support (and money) if he were to accept the job. More importantly for Memphis, McCaffery has led 3 different schools (Siena, UNC Greensboro, Lehigh) to the Big Dance.

Candidate 10. Gary Waters, Memphis (Cleveland State)

Watching Waters during the Horizon League championship game, it was hard not to believe Waters is in coaching more for himself that his players. When they beat Butler, Waters stood on the sideline seemingly celebrating with himself. While this could be an unfounded judgment, the picture on the television screen told the whole story. With that in mind, it's difficult to believe Waters won't be looking for a new job this offseason, capitalizing on his recent successes.

Having coached at Rutgers before, perhaps Waters believes he owes it to himself to see if he can have success at a bigger program. Waters got a win in the NCAA Tournament this season, so perhaps Memphis would take a chance of a guy who seems to coach with energy and passion.

Coming off the plane from the Tigers Sweet Sixteen loss to Missouri, John Calipari told reporters... "I want to be here. This is where I want to coach."

And Memphis fans everywhere heaved a sigh of relief.

What we should have been listening to was a few sentences later... "I'm so tired right now."

Sure, the guy is tired. It's been a whirlwind season... Probably one of the better seasons as far as John Calipari's coaching and his effort are concerned.

But John Calipari wasn't talking about being tired. He wasn't talking about his feelings on the Sweet Sixteen. What John Calipari was truly talking about were the things he left unsaid...

"I'm not entirely committed to this program."

"I always have my eye on the next big prize."

"I will go down in NCAA history, no matter who I must step on or over to do so."

As soon as I heard that initial Fox13 interview, dread welled up inside of me. When John Calipari said he wants to coach in Memphis, it sounded just like a star college athlete, fresh on the heels of losing the big game, who never directly addresses questions about declaring for the draft.

John Calipari sounded just like the star who, right after losing the Super Bowl, is approaching free agency, but declines to comment on that after the big game.

What I really needed to hear as a Tiger fan is the message Gator fans across the nation received the day before..."In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible. I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here.” - Billy Donovan

Thank you, Billy Donovan. A man who has previously turned down big jobs, turned down the NBA, a man who is truly leading his players and fans. Thank you for being upfront, upright and direct.

We received no such response from John Calipari. Upon noticing that little sin of omission, my heart sank quite a bit.

John Calipari is a politician before he is a coach. Take what you will from that in regard to his coaching abilities. It has long been said that if he ran for mayor of Memphis, he'd win in a landslide.

That's how John Calipari convinced Dajuan Wagner, Sean Banks, Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, and supposedly Xavier Henry, Demarcus Cousins and John Wall to join the gimpy Conference USA to play at the University of Memphis.

That's how John Calipari scored air-time on major networks. That's how Nike, FedEx and pretty much the whole dadgum city of Memphis came to be Tiger faithful.

The greatest ability of a politician is positioning. Normally, I'd make a Kama Sutra joke here, but I'm too depressed.

John Calipari has positioned his way into success, both for the University of Memphis and himself. Whether that success be wins, raises or recruits, John Calipari knows how to sell himself and sell the crew signing his paychecks.

John Calipari seems to get a raise each year, whether that be money, years, perks, concubines. I recently asked myself, "Where does it stop?" Why, Lexington, Ky., of course.

I've heard several arguments on how John Calipari was able to get away. Some believe that Conference USA couldn't contain Calipari any longer.

Some say John Calipari is simply a money-grubbing whore who ripped out the heart of a city. It was hard to disagree with that, once I learned that UK offered Calipari an eight-year, $35 million dollar job (higher than most NBA coaches).

I am inclined to agree with the theory that John Calipari, at his most sincere, longs to be in the spotlight. Calipari longs to be mainstream. He may have said it best himself when he told Fox13, "I'm so tired right now."

John Calipari is tired of having to fight and claw his way onto ESPN, Fox's The Best Damn Sports Show, AP and USA Today polls, and the front pages of every sports related show and website in existence.

Calipari's ferocious ego has finally outgrown the city of Memphis. Now that he has pooped all over our pasture, John Calipari is moving on to more expansive lands.

In Kentucky, there will be more than enough cud for John Calipari to chew on. I decided to go with the farmland analogy in honor of Kentucky. I don't know if there are farmers, pastures, or cud in Kentucky, but I like to think so.

Sadly, John Calipari won't be going to Kentucky alone. He'll take most of his posse from here in Memphis. He'll take at least two current players, Roburt Sallie and Wesley Witherspoon, who've told friends they are transferring.

He'll take most of the number one recruiting class of all time with him, a class that the city of Memphis has been buzzing about for months.

Most importantly, he'll take the pride that he'd built with the people and in the city of Memphis, dash it on the asphalt, reckoning our program as nothing more than a stepping stone upon which he was able to elevate himself to the so-called basketball elite.

While we wait for the heart-breaking news conference, telling everyone what we already know and fear, I am grateful for what John Calipari has done while in Memphis. He has consistently talked about the great city of Memphis, the love for the Tigers, and how much the city needs the Tigers to represent them.

He has always been a strong proponent of all things Memphis and worked to be accepted by the community, rather than just coaching basketball. Based on that fact alone, his accomplishments and constant good-will toward the city are completely overcast by the manner in which John Calipari is leaving.

He is treading on the name and image that he tried so hard to raise up, mocking Memphis for the sake of elevating himself to NCAA elitism.

Regardless of the good times, John Calipari's exodus is filthy and despicable. For Memphis fans all around, today is the day Coach Cal becomes nothing more than John Calipari.

After becoming friends with The Door on Facebook, I was returned to my home page to see John Calipari's daughter dropping some tidbits on the whole fiasco.

I blacked out everyone's name except Cal's daughter, not because this came from a private forum, but because it makes me look like an investigator of some sort and makes my work look awesome. Mind you, this WHOLE EXCHANGE showed up on the PUBLIC U. of Memphis network, for all to see. Stay away from me, Corey B Trotz. You are, for once, not the way to go.

First of all, the initial status update about John Calipari taking the money is dumb. Everyone knows by now he wanted to coach at Kentucky. The issue most Tiger fans have is that he has, self-admittedly, wanted to coach at Kentucky since 1992. This isn't bad in and of itself. However, in light of all the things he has said over the years about Memphis, Calipari appears to have simply used the Tigers as fertile soil from which he can reap a vast harvest... at the University of Kentucky. Geez. Another farming analogy. I don't know what my deal is lately. I swear we're not all hicks in the South, people. We're gangsters.

Anyway, the move obviously wasn't about money. As his daughter quickly follows up, Cal would've gotten more money if he had stayed. This is probably where Fred Smith and the other big boosters come into play. Rumor has it they stopped by the Calipari residence Monday night and offered him the change leftover in their pockets, and by change I mean the kind of money that makes our pick-pocketing new president salivate. Obama was so happy about the money Calipari was going to receive that he went and splurged on a new iPod to give to the Queen of England. Isn't that super rad and hip of our president?

So after the obligatory suck-up comments from the "follow your dream" crowd, we get a somewhat disconcerting message from Little Miss Cal... "and memphis treats him like this? obviously it was the right decision." Eck. As mad as I am about the Rape and Pillage of the Memphis Tigers, her message made me feel strange.

On the one hand, thousands and thousands of Tiger fans could respond similarly with, "and cal treats us like this? obviously it was bushleague." They would be correct. The upcoming year has been heralded as the Tiger's prize after so many years of coming up short. Four years of making it to at least the Sweet 16... The supposed new schedule with some combination of Kansas, Duke, UNC, Louisville... Oh, yes, and the number one recruiting class in history. These are the stories that kept many fans devout through the first couple rough months of this past season. Even the loss to Missouri was seen as merely the last speed bump until the Year of the Tiger, when everything in Memphis falls into place.

Then two days after John Calipari lands in Memphis, he becomes the highest paid coach in NCAA basketball... at Kentucky. Sweet 16s? Probably done. Formidable out of conference match-ups? Definitely done. Number one recruiting class in history? Either heading to Kentucky or breaking up and moving in different directions. After all the years of Calipari tickling the ears of Tiger fans, this is what the Year of the Tiger has become. Disaster.

On the other hand, Megan Calipari may have a point. Where was Memphis before John Calipari? Not quite circling the drain, but looking up at plenty of teams (most of whom managed to escape the CUSA by 2005). While it took several years to build, Calipari had Memphis believing. The belief was validated by success in the NIT and then great success in the NCAA tournament.

So do Tiger fans have the right to hate on Calipari? Hate is such a strong word for someone who gave Memphis so many good memories. There is definitely room for bitterness and anger, as he's leaving the program barely better than he found it. Yet, something unique happened during Calipari's career here. The city rallied behind the team. The people supported the team. Local businesses and business people fought to keep the team happy and successful. In this sense, Calipari is leaving the program in better shape than he found it. He's leaving it in the hands of so many people who so passionately want to rally behind the team. While the anger and grumbling may last for a short time, the hope for the success of the Memphis Tigers is alive and well. We will respond. While this may not quite be the Year of the Tiger, it may become the Year of the Tiger Fan.

The following incident takes place around Apr. 1, 2009 in Shelby County, TN:

"John. Damn-it JOHN! How could he!? I thought he was going to be with me forever! I thought we LOVED each other! We were together for NINE YEARS! How could he do this to me? John is an asshole, and don't even get me started on that little tramp Kentucky!"

That is what the heartbroken girl Memphis is saying. Moping over her gallon of ice cream, she cries until either the tears or the tissues run out.

But it's understandable. John was a great guy for Memphis. He took her to many places. Most of the places they went to resulted in a great time. Some dates would end sourly, but those were few, and most of them came in the first three years of the relationship.

Since then, it was all good times, some even great times. In fact, when the two were in San Antonio, he almost married her. But there was only one ring in the city, and some jerk named Bill came and took it for his girl the last second. How Selfish of him (pun completely intended).

Anyways, after that day, Memphis was disappointed to say the least, but she was still happy with John. He was everything she could ask for and more. They were together for another year in which John had a couple of slip-ups around November, but nothing too serious.

He got his act together and they had four great months together until this old bully of his, Mike Anderson, beat him up and left him bruised. She asked him if something was wrong and he said "No, honey, nothing's wrong. I love you, I want to be with you, so let's just go home."

And then came the tramp. Kentucky started calling John, saying that her old boyfriend Billy wasn't getting the job done. The two were okay together, but Billy wasn't getting along with her family too well, and he also wasn't giving into her persistent talks of a long-time commitment. So she dumped Billy, and went after John.

She knew he always had a crush on her, and she also knew how great a guy he always was to Memphis. So she called, and John listened. Memphis wouldn't let him go. She promised to put out more than he ever asked for.

She actually offered more than any girl had ever offered a guy. John was truly torn, but at the end of the day, he chose his long-time crush, the sexy and tempting Kentucky.

How did that leave Memphis feeling? Heartbroken. Shocked. Speechless. She initially got out of her couch and threw away her gallon of ice cream, claiming that she would get a guy who would warrant a "WOW!" from everyone.

In fact, only a day after John left her, she went flirting at the club. She found guys and she flirted. A LOT. Her first sentence usually started with "Hi I'm Memphis, let's go back to my place!" and guys would listen. She flirted with some big name guys.

This slightly experienced guy named Tim Floyd was hanging around, so she wooed him, but he decided he can't leave Los Angeles. Disappointed yet undeterred, she went after this hunk named Bruce. Now Bruce and John don't like each other.

Let me rephrase that. John and Bruce HATE each other.

If anything would sting John, it would be Bruce sweet-talking the girl he left. So they talked a bit, but at the end of the day Bruce said thanks but no thanks.

This is where Memphis stands today. Angry, spiteful, and willing to give herself up just to get back at John. And this is where she is wrong. She doesn't need a guy like that right now.

What Memphis needs now is a friend. A guy who will be there for her, attend to some needs, but not all. Right now, she can't be thinking of a guy who will give her a diamond ring.

What she needs right now is a guy who will hang out with her, help her cope with her problems and help her slowly forget what John did to her. There's a great guy named Scott Drew. Never mind that his entire name is made up of first names. He is an outstanding guy. He took a suicidal girl named Baylor and made her happy again.

Then there is a good guy named Sean Miller, though I question whether his beau, Xavier, is a guy or a girl. She should maybe even go after one of John's good friends, Derrick Kellogg.

Sure, every time she looks at him she'll probably think of John. But Derrick is a guy who learned the good that John taught him and usually stayed away from John's bad habits (like flirting with others just to get more out of Memphis), so he would be a good guy to go after right now.

But here is my advice to Memphis: don't go big right now. Lay low, even though you may be lonely and want someone to fill John's void. Don't give away everything you have for the wrong guy, because, honestly, you'll probably get hurt again.

For now, don't try to have fights with the big girls just to get your name out. Stay in your C-USA neighborhood. Sure, its boring, but it's home, it's yours to rule, and you know that's the damn truth.

Give it a couple of years before you look for serious relationship material. And while that "friend" helps you get through your heartbreak, it is possible that he will make overtures and will try to be that void that John created.

My advice: listen to him. He might just be the guy, who knows?

Look, Memphis. John was a great guy for you, he really was. He did a lot for you. But there are others out there, and depending on how you look at it, they may be better men than John.

When John said "I love Memphis and don't want to go anywhere else," he was lying, and shame on him for it. But when he actually did leave you, he parted with the words, "It's going to be OK." And believe me, he couldn't be closer to the truth.

You can’t fault John Calipari for accepting Kentucky’s offer.  Coach Cal encourages his players to take the NBA route if they can go high in the draft. 

Calipari has said that one reason Memphis has been successful in recent years (more so than Kentucky) is because recruits remember the programs that have been winning since they were 15 or 16 years old; longer than that, not so much.  

Calipari is living his youthful dreams of being a part of Kentucky’s great tradition and you can’t fault him for wanting to add to their legacy.

The program that John built at the University of Memphis will attract another quality coach for several reasons. Calipari has demonstrated that success can be achieved with a strong out of conference schedule regardless of its non-BCS conference affiliation. 

Coaches Mark Few at Gonzaga and Sean Miller at Xavier have also confirmed this paradigm as their programs are no longer labled "mid-major."   

As Calipari often says “it takes a village.” The university's Athletic Director RC Johnson has in place a solid player support structure that ensures high graduation rates and developswell rounded student athletes. The village of Memphis packs a 17,000 seat arena and outdraws the NBA Grizzlies. 

The ability to counter Kentucky’s offer with a better financial package than the one Calipari accepted shows that Memphis has a booster base that is willing and capable of paying top dollar for the right coach.  

As quoted in the Memphis Commercial Appeal on Wednesday, “FedEx vice president Alan Graf, who will run the search from the boosters’ side, said Wednesday that the UofM would be looking to make a splash as it attempts to keep the program nationally relevant. 

“Some of the names (being considered), if people heard them, they’d say, ‘Wow.’

Looking back through the history of Memphis basketball success, its important to realize that Memphis never has gone out and bought a "Wow" coach. 

It's not because Memphis could not afford one or didn’t have a program that was competitive on a national level.  Bob Vanatta (109-34), Dana Kirk (158-58), Gene Bartow (83-32), and Larry Finch  (220-130) all had nationally recognized success at Memphis but none of them started their tenure as a “wow” coach.

Instead, Memphis has had success finding diamonds in the rough and creating environments that allow coaches to succeed.

Today’s “wow coaches” are "flavor of the month" coaches.  They are hot today.  They are hyped and ranked by the media like Rivals Power Coach Rankings.  Going after one of these guys right now is like a feeding frenzy in shark infested waters; as we have seen with the recent contract retention packages obtained by Missouri’s Mike Anderson, USC’s Tim Floyd and Tennessee’s Bruce Pearl. 

If Mike Anderson's salary increase is any indication (from $850,000 to $1.35 million with an additional $200k in deferred compensation), the price for a “wow” coach is going up.

Memphis' coaching search should be more opaque.  Opaqueness is difficult in the media fish bowl and certainly easier when one has first strike capability (a.k.a. Kentucky).  Rather than an aggressive pursuit strategy, Memphis should be pursued. 

Its important to know that the coach truly wants to be at Memphis rather than Memphis wanting the coach to fill the spot to satisfy the “wow” factor.  Good coaches don’t coach from their wallet but rather coach from their heart.

Memphis needs a coach who has faced adversity but also tasted success.  Memphis needs a coach that may appear to be a little risky. There may be some questions or unknowns that the general public and media aren’t sure about.  

There must be solid background checks to properly vet the prospect for potentially criminal and unsavory behavior and media should not serve that function.  John Calipari was perceived as risky when Memphis hired him.  

Much of that riskiness was washed away for Kentucky through nine unblemished years at Memphis.

So, who are some coaches Memphis should consider?  Try this list of potential “wow” coaches (in no order) and some links to information on their coaching backgrounds:

Scott Drew - Baylor

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=3189351

Brad Stevens - Butler

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/region_4/Brad_on_influences_20090309

Rick Stansbury - Mississippi State

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Stansbury

Avery Johnson - Former NBA Dallas Mavericks

http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/Avery_Johnson_dismissed_043008.html

Flip Saunders - Former NBA Detroit Pistons

http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/2008/06/morning-rant-fl.html

Lawrence Frank - Current NBA NJ Nets

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E3DB1238F93BA15752C0A9629C8B63

The same week that John Calipari left the empire he built in Memphis for the Camelot that is Kentucky, my softball team has its first practice for the upcoming season.

What does one have to do with the other? Simple.

They both serve as a reminder that sports, for better or for worse, have evolved into a business, and big sports have evolved into big business.

This will be my first season playing softball. A handful of my friends have been playing now for a few years.

The league is co-ed and games are every Sunday from mid-April until mid-August. That’s followed by the playoffs, if our team qualifies.

I have no idea how we’ll do, nor do I care.

We could lose a lot more than we win and that will be fine with me.

One thing I’m fairly certain of is at some point during the season, we’ll cross paths with that one guy who takes it way too seriously.

He’ll no doubt get hacked off when a play at the plate doesn’t go his way. And then he’ll talk smack and continue to act like a clown for the rest of the game. Maybe he’ll skip the postgame handshake too?

So why am I bothering to even play, you wonder?

Because, in their simplest form, sports are supposed to be fun.

That brings us back to John Calipari and the fanbases at Memphis and Kentucky.

For nine seasons, Coach Cal was a king in the city of Memphis. High praise considering another “king”—Elvis Presley—spent a fair amount of time there. Perhaps you’ve heard of Graceland?

Calipari resurrected Memphis from a program stuck in the mud to the elite-of-the-elite.

He won 252 games as coach of the Tigers. In the previous nine years, Memphis recorded all of 130 victories.

Over the past four seasons, Calipari really pushed the Tigers into high gear.

His teams set an NCAA record with 137 wins during that four-year stretch.

Memphis reached the Elite Eight twice, lost in the title game last season, and only made it to the Sweet 16 this year. Nothing to be ashamed of considering such programs as Kansas, Duke, and Syracuse also exited this year’s tournament in the round of 16.

For Tigers fans though, the last four seasons have been bliss.

Each time their hoops heroes took the court, a win seemed inevitable.

The confidence exuded by the fans and the players was exceeded by only that of their coach.

The Memphis Tigers, and their larger-than-life coach, had united a city.

The sport of college basketball in Memphis was exactly what it should be. Fun. It was a lot of fun.

On the other hand, 423 miles to the northeast of Memphis sits Lexington, KY, home of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Throughout the country, there are several states where college basketball is more than just a sport that starts in late fall and continues through, hopefully, the end of March.

Make no mistake. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is at the top of that list.

In this state, Indiana and North Carolina to name two others, college basketball is a religion. The offseason doesn’t exist. Not when there’s recruiting and transfers and scheduling to follow.

For the past decade, Kentucky has been caught in a slow descent from the top of the hill.

In 1998, Tubby Smith coached the ‘Cats to their second national championship in three years. The victory was also the third straight year Kentucky played for college hoops’ top prize. Only a loss to Arizona in 1997 prevented the Wildcats from pulling off the three-peat.

But that was then and this is now.

And since that time, the Wildcat faithful haven’t enjoyed the “now” all that much.

It’s probably fair to say that some Kentucky fans have been as blue as the Wildcats’ away uniforms.

Now before you get the wrong idea, Kentucky’s program hasn’t been in shambles by any stretch of the imagination.

Since the national championship in 1998, the Wildcats have advanced to the Sweet 16 five times and the Elite Eight three times.

They’ve won four regular season SEC championships and four SEC tournament championships.

During that stretch, the following Kentucky players have earned NBA paychecks: Kelenna Azubuike, Keith Bogans, Joe Crawford, Chuck Hayes, Jamal Magloire. Randolph Morris, Tayshaun Prince, and Rajon Rondo. Current players like Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks are certain to be taken when they eventually declare for the draft.

OK, so with results like that, where’s the slow decline?

Well that’s just it. A lot, if not most programs, would be satisfied with success like that.

But this is Kentucky and Kentucky measures success by Final Four visits and national championships.

So after 10 seasons, Tubby Smith departed for Minnesota.

Enter Billy Gillispie.

No mention of Gillispie’s tenure is warranted based on the fact that it only lasted two seasons. That should tell you how his job performance was gauged.

Desperate to "hit a grand slam" with a coaching hire that would restore Kentucky basketball to its rightful perch, athletic director Mitch Barnhart set his gaze upon John Calipari.

Memphis fans, confronted with the possibility of losing their coach, had to ponder why Cal would leave a program that has dominated the college basketball landscape for the past four seasons?

It made no sense.

Cal had money, prestige, success, and he was the biggest fish in the pond.

And, with a recruiting class that would make most coaches lick their lips set to arrive at the start of the next school year, Memphis’ reign was sure to continue.

No way Cal leaves for Kentucky. No way.

But just then, to the chagrin of one fanbase and the elation of another, the business of sports reared its ugly head.

This was Kentucky calling. The job Cal referred to as the "Notre Dame” of college basketball.

Kentucky is one of five jobs—North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, and Kansas being the others—that a coach just doesn’t say no to.

Calipari is one of the most polarizing figures in college basketball.

In a way, he’s just like Notre Dame Football. People either love him or hate him. Middle ground is not an option when it comes to an opinion of Coach Cal.

But this isn’t about trashing or defending Calipari.

When objectively looking at the option dropped square in his lap, how was he supposed to say no?

Put yourself in Calipari’s position, but within your current profession.

You aren’t just great at your job, you excel at it. Your company reaps the benefits of having you as one of its top employees.

And you are rewarded for your efforts. Handsomely.

But then, one of the giants of your industry approaches you with an offer. They ask you to perform the exact same job with the exact same results. Except do it at their offices and for their employees.

Name your price. Pick your benefits. Done and done.

By taking that offer, you’ll reach the top of your profession.

Don’t you almost have to say yes?

Sure, you’ll be leaving an already highly successful business. You currently have a very comfortable life. You don’t want for anything financially.

And maybe best of all, you’re viewed by the people around you as a savior who can do no wrong.

But alas, there’s no replacement for climbing the mountain and reaching the top of your industry.

That’s all Calipari did despite what Memphis fans wanted.

Like that, the nine years of college hoops fun stopped being fun and started being a business. Just like it always is.

And it’s not just college hoops, but all sports.

Johnny Damon and Roger Clemens, heroes to Red Sox fans everywhere, donned the laundry of the hated New York Yankees. And now they’re loathed. Forever.

Jerry Rice traveled across the bay to suit up for the Raiders. Is he no longer the San Francisco Treat?

Jason Giambi, while with Oakland, couldn’t beat the Yankees. So he joined them. Traitor.

Bill Parcels, former New York Giants coach, later held the same title for their arch rival, the Dallas Cowboys. Like Parcells said, you are what you are.

Fans of teams and members of those organizations all crave the same on-field success. But one group pays to see that success while the other group cashes a check because of it.

And therein lays the difference. The business of sports.

Some fans can’t understand the difference while some fans choose to ignore it.

Memphis fans will hopefully move on and embrace the new coach, whenever he’s hired.

And I’m sure I’ll run into that one jerk on the softball field.

At some point, I’m certain that I and all the Memphis fans will share the same thought. “This isn’t as much fun as it should be.”

Calipari’s Kentucky press conference took place on Wednesday, Apr. 1. No fooling.

The weather forecast in Memphis for that day called for sunny skies.

You’ll have to forgive Tigers’ fans if they only saw clouds on the horizon.

Nine years, in retrospect, is an awful long time.

Nine years equals 3,287 days (two leap years included). 

Nine years would cover two presidential elections and overlap three terms for the U.S. Commander-in-Chief. 

Nine years from now, a senior in the Class of 2009 will be completing the first full year of residency and paying off college loans, which will most likely exceed $200,000.

In nine years, there will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 99,000 Division I men’s college basketball games played.

John Calipari was the Memphis head coach for nine years—252 victories and a countless number of fantastic memories.

That’s about all Memphis has left from the Calipari era now—memories.

Perhaps, though, the Memphis fanbase has something else, too—perspective.

We rode a resplendent recruiting class, a coach who is unafraid to take chances, and a collective belief in Calipari’s pet phrase—“refuse to lose”—to an unprecedented 137 wins in four seasons.

Conference USA be damned; that’s impressive.

Memphis forced their way into the conversation of “the elite,” and along the way, I think we let it all go to our heads. We hiked halfway up Mount Olympus, and maybe we forgot what it was like on the way up.

The stability and prosperity of Calipari’s time here was intoxicating, and it allowed us to forget that the journey is never over until you reach the summit.

We forgot just how much can go wrong during the trek.

I say that because we as Memphis fans dared to think that Calipari would never leave us. 

He was winning here at an insane, historic rate; he was one of the very highest-paid coaches in the game; he had ultra-elite recruits beating down his doors.

We did not see the job as a stepping stone; suddenly, after nine years, we were a final destination.

We watched the coaching carousel every year, as the “haves” continually raided the “have nots” of their head coaches. 

UCLA snatched Ben Howland from Pittsburgh. Indiana came calling for Tom Crean, leaving Marquette to look elsewhere. This was after the Hoosiers had wooed Kelvin Sampson from Oklahoma, to disastrous results.

Kentucky itself famously hired Billy Gillispie away from Texas A&M two years ago.

Through it, we were able to hang onto Calipari. It was fun to watch the other schools scramble for coaches; we were seemingly immune.

Oh, sure, there were attempts to lure Coach Cal away—South Carolina in 2001, St. John’s in 2002, North Carolina State three years ago, a flirtation with Kentucky two years ago.

Still, we had Calipari.

One must remember, too, that Memphis has very rarely, through the years, seen larger, more prestigious schools come in and hire away their coaches.

In fact, the last time it happened was when UCLA’s John Wooden anointed Memphis State’s Gene Bartow as his successor in 1974.

Every single Memphis head coach since then has been fired or forced out by the University—Wayne Yates, Dana Kirk, Larry Finch, Tic Price, and Johnny Jones.

Combining those two facts, it has been 35 years since a Memphis coach voluntarily left the school to take another head coaching job.

In the same period of time, Tulsa groomed and subsequently lost Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith, and Bill Self, all of whom went on to win a national title somewhere else.

Buzz Peterson left for Tennessee after a single, 26-win campaign at Tulsa in 2000-01. Florida State swooped in to take Steve Robinson from the Hurricane in 2002.

That’s five coaches who, to roughly paraphrase the theme song from The Jeffersons, “moved on up” the coaching ranks from Tulsa to greener pastures.

All the while, Memphis watched from a distance, unfamiliar with the bumps and bruises associated with the yearly coaching carousel.

Well, now we know. Hopefully, we won’t have to experience it again anytime too soon. Because it hurts, it literally pains the fans to see their coaches leave, often taking the hopes of a city, a state, or even a region with them.

The whole experience, though, should serve as a reminder to Memphis fans.

Never take success for granted. Don’t gloat in the failures of others. 

And never, ever think that a coach won’t leave you. No matter how good the program may seem to you, there’s always some place else that could come in, under the right circumstances, and take your savior.

John Calipari used to say of winning a national title: “It never comes when you think it will. It will happen when you least expect it.”

That is precisely how it happens with coaching changes, too. You don’t see them coming.

Do you really think Kansas expected to lose Roy Williams the way they did?

But it had always been Williams’ dream to coach his alma mater—North Carolina. When the chance came, he knew it might never happen again.

It’s the exact same thing with Calipari now. As Calipari said, “I told (Memphis Athletic Director R. C. Johnson), ‘Don’t give me anything else. It’s Kentucky.’”

Memphis is about to make some fine sideline manager very rich. It will probably be the head man at a school that has never been in the NCAA Championship Game, doesn’t have as many Final Fours, Elite Eights, or Sweet 16s as Memphis does.

It will be at the expense of a school that was just getting used to the guy, starting to believe that they are a couple of strong recruiting classes from moving "to the next level."

As Memphis basketball slides back down the mountain, how long the descent lasts will depend on the new hire. He’s not going to have much to work with in the way of players.

He will have first-class practice facilities but fewer than eight players to utilize them.

He will have the Finch Center to wow recruits with. Ditto the FedEx Forum.

He will have some rabid fans, eager to support him to the hilt. Ready to see him grow old and retire from here.

So hopefully, we as fans have learned something from this ride on the coaching carousel. Celebrate the new hire, but know that someone else will be hurting—just like we’re hurting right now.

The biggest reason we hurt, though, is because we had gotten too comfortable, dare I say complacent, about our place in the NCAA hierarchy. We haven’t reached the mountain top, by any stretch of the imagination. Yet.

Look forward to rebuilding a tradition and hopefully creating a new one.

But just remember: Your next ride on the coaching carousel is just one firing away. Be prepared, because the odds are good that it will happen again sometime.

For those of us in who reside in the Memphis area, it's been an adventuresome last few days. The local media has been camped outside and hovering over John Calipari's house as he made the blatantly obvious choice to leave the Tiger program for the Big Blue Nation in Lexington. Despite the vitriol that's being spewed by many fans today, the choice is a no-brainer: Kentucky, UCLA, North Carolina, Indiana, and Kansas are college basketball royalty; Memphis isn't.

The list of coaches being batted around by Memphis fans is impressive, but I just wonder why any of them would come to Memphis. Here's a breakdown as I see it.

Mike Anderson, Mizzou: Already off the market. Signed a nice extension with Mizzou

Tim Floyd, USC: His Southern connections would've made him the best choice, but it appears he's taking over for former Ole Miss assistant Russ Pennell at Arizona

Bruce Pearl, Tennessee: Now it starts getting interesting. Sure, the Memphis job would be a step up in profile from Tennessee, but there was a genuine disdain between Calipari and Pearl. Pearl is working to build a Vols program, and quite frankly, unless something crazy happens and John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Xavier Henry are Tigers next season, Memphis is going to be significantly worse next season than they were last. I don't see the appeal to Pearl unless it's strictly about the cash.

Rick Pitino, Louisville: Now it starts to get delusional. The rumor is that Pitino would be hired, coach a few seasons, and then retire and Memphis would promote his son to be the coach. Pitino is not going anywhere. If he left this year, it would be viewed as running from Calipari, who he will now get to face yearly. Also, part of his success there would always be viewed as partially attributable to Calipari's doing there, and neither Pitino nor Pearl want that.

Bobby Knight, ESPN: There aren't even words to describe this. This is the dumbest idea since an mid-afternoon fireworks show. Not gonna happen.

That brings us to the non-"WOW" candidates Memphis AD RC Johnson has promised. Xavier's Sean Miller and our very own Andy Kennedy.

Sean Miller seems to be the right choice here. He's at a non-BCS school and has been a very good coach at Xavier in his tenure there, going 120-47. His Musketeers actually beat the Tigers early in the 2008-09 season. He's been to the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8 the last two seasons and appears to be a young coaching star.

Which brings us to AK. From an unbiased point of view, why would Memphis want to hire a coach which pending legal issues and one that has failed to reach the NCAA tournament in four seasons as a head coach. I'll grant you that the legal issues are more than likely bogus and that he's done a very good job in all four seasons as a head coach, but is that really the profile of a coach that Memphis wants to replace Calipari with?

This may be a harsh lesson in reality for Memphis fans. While their program is certainly one of the best in the country, it's very tough to win consistently at a non-BCS school like Calipari has the last several seasons. If Memphis fans remember, Calipari didn't start putting up the gaudy numbers they've become accustomed to until CUSA was gutted by the Big East and the other legitimate basketball teams left. Calipari is a tough act to follow and 2009-10 will be a rebuilding season with Tyreke Evans declaring and a handful of other players joining Cal in Lexington, which is a trash move by Calipari, but that's another story.

Regardless of who is hired, the program will take a step back from the national spotlight. While Pitino and Pearl would both be very visible, high-profile leaders of the program, neither one is going to take the job. I just hope that Tiger fans will welcome Sean Miller. He's a very good coach who will win at Memphis if given the chance. While he may not be a high-profile as Calipari is - and who is - he'll be a very good fit, and that's what the Tigers need.

I, John Calipari...

John Calipari is a good basketball coach, not a great one.  The Kentucky basketball program right now is a good one, not a great one.  They're perfect for each other.

On the surface, Calipari is an outstanding catch for the Wildcats.  It's hard to beat a .762 winning percentage, NBA ties, and the ability to yank blue-chip recruits from all over the country.

Dig deeper and gaps develop.  Not a single thing this man has done in college basketball has been free of blemish.  Not one.  Marcus Camby accepting 40k and hookers over a 16-month period from a lawyer in Connecticut isn't the entire story, either. 

There's also Donta Bright and Lou Roe, whose academics were so questionable other major schools passed on them while Calipari flaunted UMass' options for students with learning disabilities.

...from this day forward, for better or worse, or until stuff starts hitting fans...

Then he bolted to the NBA shortly after the Camby situation started unravelling.

At Memphis, he's developed a nice stable of recruiting side stories, from World Wide Wes to DeJuan Wagner's dad to Reggie Rose to Lord knows what else will emerge.

More importantly (well, at least to Kentucky), on the court Calipari has actually underperformed against expectations in the NCAA tournament.  Memphis was upset in '03, '06, and '09. 

They equalled their seed in '04 and '07, and only (arguably) did better than their seed in '08.  His '93 and '94 UMass teams were also upset.  In fact, not one Calipari-coached team has demonstrably done better than expected in the NCAA Tournament. Not one.

And he's never won a game in a top six conference.

...for richer or poorer, mostly richer since you're paying me an exorbitant amount of money...

Play in a weak conference, rack up the wins with Yankees-level talent for your second-tier conference, and disappoint in March.  Wake up one day and you'll making championship vows as the highest-paid coach in college basketball.

The only school right for him is Kentucky, a school whose fans live in 1968 and think it's the center of the college basketball universe, the only place to offer everything a college basketball coach could want.  "The coach is bigger than the Governor," they say with all the hubris entitled to a team mentally living in a Ruppian utopia.

They're prefect for Calipari because they're the basketball equivalent of Notre Dame and Alabama football. 

Drunk on history and self-righteousness, they often ignore reality, decorum, and any pesky roadblocks in the return for glory, discarding the common rules other programs live by.  "This isn't just another coaching job," indeed!

...to love and to cherish, because that means drinking from the same giant cauldron of hallucinogenic blue liquid...

Truth is, Kentucky is just another coaching job.  It's probably one of the top fifteen in the country, but there's nothing special about it aside from maybe kissing some more butt in the media and booster circles (which is a negative to prospective coaches).

However, try explaining this to a Kentucky fan, and they'll think you're from Mars, which makes the Calipari hire a perfect fit.  Like Kentucky, Calipari sees himself in an echelon above his peers. 

Kid no one can touch?  He'll get him.  He's Italian and he looks good on TV.  Hookers for 20-year olds?  He didn't know about it.  NBA players?  He could handle them, right?

...'til death, or premature contract termination at your massive expense because I've failed to live up to the ungodly expectations set before me, do us part...

The list of coaches who have disliked Calipari is quite an impressive gallery: Calhoun, Chaney, Pitino, Pearl, Martelli, et cetera.  Only through Calipari can they be linked. 

Likewise, Kentucky finds enemies from all over the basketball sphere merely because of the unwarranted swagger they bring to basketball season.

Given their pasts, the marriage of Calipari and Kentucky is an NCAA scandal and a feast of postseason underachieving waiting to happen.  It's like the marriage of Sampson and Indiana on Lexington-style crack cocaine. 

Overrated coach, you may now take this overrated program...