Arkansas directory shows men’s basketball staff includes several former Kentucky staffers
FAYETTEVILLE — John Calipari’s first Arkansas men’s basketball staff is coming together.
Appointed on April 10, Calipari has brought a number of his Kentucky on-court and support staff members to the Natural State.In addition to the previously mentioned Kenny Payne, Chuck Martin, and Chin Coleman, Calipari said on Wednesday that Tyler Ulis, a former guard for Kentucky, will be joining the staff as a co-host of the podcast “Ways to Win,” which he co-hosts with Craig Robinson, the former coach of Oregon State.
What Ulis’s responsibilities at Arkansas will be, Calipari did not specify.
According to the University of Arkansas staff directory, Calipari has hired a number of people from Kentucky for non-playing positions. The UA directory lists the following individuals as staff members: associate athletics director for basketball operations Chris Woolard, assistant video coordinator Kevin Gallagher, head coach James “Bruiser” Flint’s associate Kevin Butty, and former Kentucky video coordinator Kevin Butty.
Uncertainty surrounds whether any of the old coach Eric Musselman’s staff members will remain on the new staff despite their continued inclusion in the directory.
Flint was Calipari’s successor at Massachusetts after being on his staff for seven years. Flint spent the 2020-21 season as a Kentucky assistant before becoming associate to the head coach.
Calipari’s son Brad is also listed in the UA directory. He served as Vanderbilt’s director of on-court player development last season after serving in the same position at Long Island. He played for his father for three seasons at Kentucky before transferring to Detroit.
Ulis spent the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant under Calipari, allowing him to participate in on-court workouts and all coaching activities but recruiting.
During the podcast, Calipari stated that he is looking for graduate assistants who have recently completed their college careers or who have played professionally in Europe.
During his two years at Kentucky, Ulis averaged 11.3 points and 5.2 assists. He was a vital member of the 38-1 Kentucky squad that Wisconsin defeated in the 2015 Final Four. In his sophomore year, he broke the Wildcats single-season assist record.
The Phoenix Suns chose him with the 34th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He averaged 7.5 points and 4 assists over his three NBA seasons.
Ulis was a Chicago Bulls player as well. Injuries to his hips, muscles, and legs plagued his career.
