Kentucky 'In Talks' With John Calipari's Replacement

10/04/2024 00:35

Kentucky's coaching search is progressing. The Wildcats reportedly have a target to replace John Calipari.

Kentucky is "in talks" with Baylor's Scott Drew about its coaching vacancy, Adam Zagoria reported for NJ Advance Media on Tuesday evening. 

Drew, 53, has been at Baylor since 2003, and has been linked to the opening in Lexington since news broke late Sunday night that Calipari was bound for Arkansas.

Other names that were mentioned included Alabama's Nate Oats and UConn's Dan Hurley, both of whom have publicly denied interest in the position.

At Baylor, Drew has posted an overall record of 446-244, which includes 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and the program's first national championship back in 2021. 

Drew also won Big 12 Coach of the Year three consecutive seasons from 2020-22 and led the Bears to an NIT Championship 2013.

Calipari officially announced he was leaving Kentucky on Tuesday after 15 seasons leading the program.

"Since our season ended, Ellen and I have spent a lot of time thinking about our time here at Kentucky, what it means to us, the friends we've made," Calipari said. "On that court — regional championships, conference championships, Final Fours, the national title in 2012 — it's been a beautiful time for us. This is a dream job. My dream job. Anybody in our profession looks at the University of Kentucky in basketball and says, 'That's the bluest of blue.'"