2009.03.26
UVa Insider, The Column
Some time ago, I quit archiving my UVa Insider columns because I was convinced I could find whatever I wanted with a simple google search.
So it was that I went looking for a column that I swear I remember writing in the spring of 2005, the last time that Virginia was looking for a new men’s basketball coach.
(Long story short, I couldn’t find the column).
My recollection is that I suggested the Cavaliers take a look at then-Memphis coach John Calipari.
Four years have elapsed and Calipari is still the Memphis coach. Virginia is looking again, having shown the door to its 2005 choice, Dave Leitao.
Virginia probably could have had Calipari in 2005, at which point he was making an estimated $1.035 million per year. Leitao got $900,000 that same year.
From the few Calipari-related stories I was able to find, he received a pay raise to $1.3 million after his first Final Four trip in 2006, got bumped to $1.8 million in 2007 and now makes somewhere in the range of $2.5 million.
He also gets a $2.5-million annuity if he stays past 2009-2010.
So, the Cavaliers probably don’t want to get in a bidding war for Calipari, not that they’d even want him, although he has worked his magic in the hometown of UVa’s major benefactor, Paul Tudor Jones.
Some would say that Calipari, who first came to prominence at Massachusetts, does not have the most pristine reputation. The Minutemen, led by Marcus Camby, were ranked No. 1 in the country and reached the Final Four in 1996 before finishing 36-2.
However, their spot in the record books was later vacated after they were found guilty of NCAA violations.
Calipari later coached the New Jersey Nets before surfacing at Memphis in 2000. ACC fans will remember that he was thought headed to N.C. State in 2006 before withdrawing his name at the 11th hour.
At Memphis, which belongs to Conference USA, Calipari has shown it is possible to become a perennial major power without belonging to one of the major conferences. It could be argued that he has succeeded with athletes who don’t bring the strongest academic credentials, although they apparently meet NCAA guidelines. They have to.
Who knows if any of the innuendo bothers Calipari, but if he were to get the job done at Virginia – or a school with the academic profile of a Virginia – it’s possible that his career would be considered in a completed different light.
Would I hire Calipari? If the search organization employed by the Cavaliers found out that Calipari was interested in talking, I’d certainly talk to him. Maybe the money would be prohibitive, but he would have a lot to offer Virginia and it would have a lot to offer him.
IN CASE YOU’RE interested, Calipari turned 50 this year. I turn 57 next week, so I can talk about age.
Minnesota coach Tubby Smith is 57 (he turns 58 on June 30), so he’s a young man, by my standards. A keen observer of the UVa men’s basketball scene told me Thursday that he thinks Smith is too old and that he (the keen observer) would like to think the next coach will be around for 10 years.
I’ve talked to other contacts, former Virginia players and other college coaches, who think that Smith is the absolute best fit for UVa. Given his mid-Atlantic roots, it’s a part of the country to which he could retire, or ease gracefully into retirement.
But, in multiple Minnesota media outlets this week, Smith has said he is staying at Minnesota. Where does that leave the Cavaliers? Waiting for Oklahoma to be eliminated from the NCAA Tournament so they can talk to Jeff Capel? Seeing if assistant AD Jon Oliver’s ties can get Trent Johnson to make a jump from LSU?
Johnson, 52, has been a success everywhere he’s been but I’m still not sure he’s the home run that Virginia needs after making two NCAA trips in 13 years. We’re continuing to get votes on last week’s UVa Insider poll, which gave readers the option of voting for one of 12 possible targets.
Of the 705 votes that had been cast as of this afternoon, three had gone to Johnson. He could be the best coach of the bunch but he’s not going to open up the checkbooks.
Unless Uva hires someone of national stature [like Tubby], its basketball program really needs someone recently well-connected in its I-95 recruiting corridor. Trent Johnson is not that man. Really Dave Leitao was not either.
BB recruiting is different than the statewide aspect of f'ball recruiting at which uva used to excel until the expansion giveaway to the Hokies.
Johnson's close ties to Jon Oliver is also a source of concern, not enthusiasm
Comment by Wahoo Walt — March 26, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
ok DD , Orrie would like Calapari as well, but we both know that won't happen so......why not take a look at the obvious choice ...opps ...not available at this time ..How can anyone determine who the obvious choice is ?
Comment by Orrie — March 26, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
I would love for Tubby Smith to be the next coach at UVA and bring Ralph Sampson III with him.
I would also love to see Seth Curry decide to transfer to UVA!
I would also be dreaming if both of those instances occur!
Comment by Dan — March 27, 2009 @ 2:31 am
AGAIN WILL STATE AVERY JOHNSON FORMER DALLAS MAVERICKS COACH.
Comment by BEN — March 27, 2009 @ 9:01 am
Letter to the virginia tech athletic department
In a world long ago there were two neighbors and friends that played sports together in the big east conference. Us West Virginians would look forward to that every year. Then you found richer more prestigious friends in the Atlantic Coast conference. You left your poor neighbors to the west with a conference that was on life support.
It is funny how things change over time. Is the Atlantic Coast conference any good in baseball? There will always be a place in our hearts and memories for our humble and wonderful hokie friends and neighbors that were led down a path of false hopes and delusions of grandeur by aspiring buffoons.
Comment by olin price — March 27, 2009 @ 1:09 pm
You would be
Comment by Paul Houston — March 27, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
Olin, The Hokies are very happy in the ACC. Our football program is doing well, as is WVU's. I've been a Bill Stewart fan since I saw him speak as VMI's head coach. Hokie b'ball could be better, we've had some big wins against UNC and Duke but at this time can only be considered slightly above average.
We might still be scheduling football games with the Neer's if our fans hadn't been pelted with batteries, bottles and cans, been spat upon and had vehicles vandalized in Morgantown. Just isn't worth it.
Comment by Justafan — March 27, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
I'm not sure where Calipari got his negative image from, but part of it was from when John Cheney threatened to "kill him" after a game. I think part of that was because Calipari had overtaken Cheney in on-court and recruiting success, but was part of that because Cheney felt that Calipari was doing some unethetical things?!..........
Comment by Nelson — March 29, 2009 @ 2:06 am
Calipari would never have come to UVa. The admissions department would have sttod in his way. It's the same reason Calipari didn't go to NC State. Calipari is not concerned at all with the student athlete. I'm glad they didn't go after Calipari, there are some things not worth selliing your soul for.
Comment by Kris — March 29, 2009 @ 8:35 am
Nice piece in the paper this weekend regarding Jeff Jones and UVA. In my opinion, the day Jeff Jones was fired was the day UVA basketball died. At the time, I was one of the few that thought we should have put him on probation and tried to salvage the situation. He was a great coach that fell victim to youthful mistakes and bad luck (most teams would have signed the doomed class of 199?). It is hard to know how things would have turned out if we had decided to stand behind JJ, however; it is hard to imagine being in a situation worse then we currently face.
You cannot go back in time and for that reason it is unlikely JJ would even be considered for the job. I do feel confident his days at American are limited and better days are ahead for him.
Good luck JJ.
Capel is the man.
Comment by Joe — March 29, 2009 @ 5:18 pm
Why does a story about UVA Basketball have remarks/comments about VT and WVU???? Hoo Cares? The absolute best and obvious coaching choice is Rick Carlisle ....has he said no yet? Tubby is too old and also has questions about his conduct at KY. The next best choice is Jeff Capel....hoo is still playing right now. Calipari would be OK as 3rd choice, but he will never get the players he chooses into UVA. Memphis is not a nationally recognized academic university like UVA. I suggest UVA look in the NE US for a coach that is up and coming because that is where UVA gets most of it's talent ....how about the Villanova coach? The ACC may be more appealing than the Big East.
Comment by Big Poppy — March 29, 2009 @ 6:40 pm