Links » excited that Coach Calipari is going to speak at our tip

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – University of Kentucky Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Calipari, who started his playing career at UNCW before becoming one of the nation’s most accomplished college coaches, will be the keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Men’s Basketball Tip Off Dinner this fall.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at the Burney Center. Ticket information will be announced later. Proceeds for the 7 p.m. dinner will benefit UNCW men’s basketball.

“We’re very excited that Coach Calipari is going to speak at our tip off banquet banquet,” said C.B. McGrath, UNCW’s third year head coach. “It’s going to be a great event and we’re thrilled to welcome him back as a former student athlete. His success as a coach is second to none. What he does off the court to help others is phenomenal. He is extremely generous to help UNCW basketball.”

A 2015 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Calipari has piloted six teams to the NCAA Final Four, including the 2012 national championship club, and helped 49 players earn selection in the NBA draft in his 27 year collegiate coaching career.

Calipari has made three NCAA Division I coaching stops UMass, Memphis and UK. In 10 seasons in Lexington, Calipari leads all coaches in total wins 305 , NCAA Tournament victories 31 , Final Fours 4 , Elite Eights 7 and Sweet Sixteens 8 .

While piling up numerous honors and awards, Calipari’s penultimate moment came in 2011 12 when he guided the Wildcats to the NCAA national title in his third season as head of Big Blue Nation. He remains one of just two coaches to lead three different programs UMass 1996, Memphis 2008 and Kentucky 2011, 2012, 2012, 2015 to a Final Four https://www.kentuckywildcatscenter.com/hamidou-diallo-jersey-c-4.html, joining Rick Pitino in the feat.

Calipari owns a career coaching record of 708 209 .772 , including a mark of 305 71 .811 at Kentucky. He has coached teams to 15 conference championships and a 51 17 .750 NCAA Tournament record.

The Sewickley, Pa., native also coached at Kansas assistant coach, 1983 85 Wenyen Gabriel Jersey, Pittsburgh assistant coach, 1986 88 , UMass head coach, 1989 96 , New Jersey Nets head coach https://www.kentuckywildcatscenter.com/edrice-adebayo-jersey-c-3.html, 1997 99 , Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach, 200 , Memphis head coach, 2001 09 .

As a player, Calipari appeared in 25 games in two seasons with the Seahawks in 1978 79 and 1979 80 before transferring to Clarion, Pa. A point guard, he played in 25 games, scoring 21 points with seven rebounds and 22 assists. He scored a career high nine points at Campbell on Jan. 8, 1979.

UNCW Men’s Basketball Tip Off Dinner Speakers
2016 – Seth Greenberg https://www.kentuckywildcatscenter.com/sacha-killeyajones-jersey-c-2.html, ESPN Analyst

2017 – Roy Williams, Head Basketball Coach, University of North Carolina

2018 – Brad Brownell, Head Basketball Coach, Clemson University

2019 – John Calipari, Head Basketball Coach, University of Kentucky