Did the Pot Have a Point When It Called the Kettle Black?

John Calipari at a Kentucky press conference. AP / Reinke

Just because Bobby Knight is no longer patrolling the basketball sidelines does not mean that he is lost to the college basketball world. Knight is in his second full year working as a game and studio analyst for ESPN and apparently he is for rent on the motivational speaking circuit. Knight who retired from the coaching profession with 902 wins all-time found his way back into the headlines this past week for comments he made as the key note speaker at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Banquet. While discussing the present day status of the college coaching industry Knight mentioned, “We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching,” he continued “You see we’ve got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.” Even the most casual fan should be able to realize that the coach in question is the check your wallet, slick, used car salesman, John Calipari.

Now for proper context it is important to note that in both investigations of improper conduct at UMass and Memphis, Calipari was never the target. However, to Knight’s point how can a head coach’s responsibility be divorced from actions that were seen as so egregious by the NCAA as to warrant the vacating of two Final Four appearances? The answer I’m afraid is summed up in only two words, he wins, which in the world of NCAA basketball translates to big dollars for his employers. In the case of Kentucky, the home of legendary basketball coach Adolph Rupp, the last few coaches have flamed out and the massive fan base is getting restless. So if you’re the athletic director at UK and you need to win now find a guy whose track record beams “Winner.” Integrity, what?

Enter John Calipari who trampled the promises made to his current players and some recruits at Memphis in order to take the helm of the Wildcats. Calipari is looking to cement his reputation, after his stints at UMass and Memphis he is seen as a good coach (let’s forget about the failed stint in the NBA, he certainly would like us to) and an even better recruiter, however if he can right the ship at Kentucky he will be elevated to legend.

The question still remains should he still have a job? Regardless, of whether or not the NCAA targeted or sanctioned his actions specifically, I refuse to divorce him of his responsibility as head coach of the team. Therefore, being that the NCAA found that illegal acts did occur; John Calipari should not be allowed to coach or should have at a minimum faced a penalty directly for actions that occurred under his régime. The NCAA’s failure to place any consequences on Calipari violates a basic rule of leadership which says that the leader is responsible for their own actions and the actions of those in their charge.