Before he recently rejoined John Calipari’s staff at Kentucky, Orlando Antigua really did not know Bruiser Flint or Jai Lucas—two current UK assistant coaches. Antigua knew Lucas’ father, John, well and even though he did not know Jai personally, he knew about him.
“I knew that he was a star, up and coming, but getting a chance with him, hands on, both he and Chin (Coleman), it’s exciting,” Antigua said.
Antigua knew Coleman well because they were coaching together at Illinois. While they insisted they were not a package deal, Antigua certainly wanted Coleman to follow him to Lexington and told him plenty about the UK program and Big Blue Nation.
“He’s really happy to be here,” Antigua said Saturday during UK’s Father-Daughter Camp. “Learning and seeing about all the things that I told him about, how fanatical our fans are, how educated they are, how passionate they are about the program, the school, he’s been pumped about that.”
Antigua was “pumped” himself to get back with Calipari, who seems even more motivated to Antigua after last season’s 9-16 finish.
“He’s just ready to get at it,” Antigua said.
So is Antigua or he would not have left Illinois and coach Brad Underwood.
“The staff and people up there at Illinois were phenomenal but the relationship I have with Cal and the relationship I have with Lexington – my daughter just graduated from here – there were times I was back in town and sneaking in and nobody knew,” Antigua said.
