"Your staff said, 'He stinks'": John Calipari recalls a hilarious story from the time when Coach K tried to scout him
John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski, AKA Coach K, are two of the most celebrated coaches in Division I college basketball history. Both have led their respective teams to tremendous success over the years and their rivalry is the stuff of legend.
The two veteran coaches were on the 'Basketball and Beyond' podcast on SiriusXM Radio this week, with Coach K hosting the segment. During the episode, the two recounted a hilarious story from the time when Krzyzewski scouted a young Calipari.
"You recruited me to Army (Black Knights), but you didn't come in. Who was your two assistants?" Calipari asked Mike. "Oh, you sent a GA, you did."
"Yeah, I don't think I even sent an assistant. I sent a private," Krzyzewski replied.
John Calipari also mentioned that K's coaching staff were not impressed by him.
"Remember, you came in one time, watched me play, and your staff said, 'He stinks, not him. Not the guy,'" Calipari said.
Krzyzewski was the head coach at Army for five seasons from 1975-80 before taking over the Duke Blue Devils, where he won five national championships. When he went to watch John Calipari play, Calipari was a player at UNC Wilmington.
Calipari joined Clarion instead and retired from playing two seasons later. He then joined Kansas as an associate assistant to begin his coaching career.
John Calipari and Coach K talk about the impact of NIL era on college basketball
With more and more coaches coming out and sharing their dissatisfaction with the current state of NIL and the college basketball landscape, John Calipari and Coach K have also weighed on the topic.
The Arkansas coach said he supports paying players but expects more from them now that they are getting paid.
"I tell my guys, 'You're pros, and I'm gonna treat you like pros,'" Calipari said. "I tell these kids, and you're delayed, you're doing this great. I'm gonna find it. And they said 'Where would the money go?' I said I keep the money. It'd be my money, so I'd be finding you left and right."
John Calipari further went on to explain that he tried to discuss the matter with the NCAA but was shut down.
"I’ve tried to tell the NCAA, they’ve obviously never listened to me, but if they made decisions all based on the kids, they’ll all be right decisions. But they don’t," the Razorbacks coach dadded.
Calipari, who left Kentucky for Arkansas this offseason, will manage his first regular season game on Nov. 6 against Lipscomb at Bud Walton Arena.