Jeff Borzello explains why Texas should land John Calipari as head coach: "They should call John Calipari"
John Calipari has been a staple of college basketball as a head coach. With the Texas Longhorns looking for a new leader, some believe that Calipari should be considered for the role.
Throughout his career, Calipari has been one of the most recognizable coaching names in basketball. He's spent time at both the collegiate and NBA levels. After spending time in the NBA as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, Calipari took the head coaching job at the University of Memphis.
Between 2000 to 2009, Calipari transformed the Memphis Tigers into a powerhouse, including seven consecutive 20-win seasons. After the 2009 season, Calipari was hired by the Kentucky Wildcats and he's called it home ever since.
The Texas Longhorns recently dismissed head coach Chris Beard amid domestic family violence charges. The Longhorns look to be a program on the rise, meaning they will be aggressive in trying to find a replacement.
Some in the college basketball world believe that the Longhorns should pick up the phone to talk to Calipari about the opening. One of those includes ESPN college basketball analyst Jeff Borzello.
Appearing with Myron Medcalf recently, Borzello said that as crazy as it sounds, there could be an outside chance that Calipari could be intrigued.
"They should call John Calipari, and that sounds crazy...so if you're Texas, why not call him?"
Who might be the next head coach at Texas? "They should call John Calipari," ESPN's @jeffborzello says. That and more on our reaction to the Chris Beard news. youtu.be/KITB3E5aPls https://t.co/wrwKiCz1W9
Could John Calipari be on the radar for the Texas Longhorns?
John Calipari has often been at the top of hiring lists when a prestigious program has an opening. But numerous times, Calipari has found himself more than happy with his situation at Kentucky.
To pry away Calipari, Texas would most likely have to make an offer too good to refuse. The Longhorns were one of the top teams in the country this season before Chris Beard's dismissal.
BREAKING: Texas has fired head coach Chris Beard, per @MattNorlander.
"[He is] fired with cause on a seven year deal that was worth $35 million through 2028 — that is no more." https://t.co/TI1xjLQm1D
Kentucky has been a solid team throughout the 2022-23 season as well. They are currently 10-4 on the season, with an upcoming showdown against eighth-ranked Alabama on Saturday.
The timing could be interesting for Calipari, as the Wildcats are expected to have a number of veteran players leave for the NBA level. Texas could try to lure him with its resources, but Calipari has been a popular figure in the Wildcats nation.