John Calipari happy he can still see Joe Hall and appreciates support Hall gave him

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Kentucky coach John Calipari visited former UK coach Joe Hall this week on his 93rd birthday.

If there is one thing John Calipari has done that every University of Kentucky basketball fan has to appreciate it is the way he has embraced former UK coach Joe Hall. From the beginning, Calipari has included Hall in practices and other functions. He’s made it clear Hall was a big part of UK basketball history and he considered Hall, the coach of UK’s 1978 national championship team, a mentor.

It was no surprise to me that Calipari went to see Hall this week on his 93rd birthday. Calipari got to meet Hall’s sister for the first time on that visit but what made the biggest impression on Calipari was Hall’s smile.

“Everybody talks about how rough and tough he was as a coach. Like, he was mean. I swear to you, I’ve never seen him without a smile on his face. Even then. I mean, he’s 93 years old. You guys (in the media) put him through the ringer and he’s still smiling,” Calipari said.

“And I did say this to him – I teased him – I said, ‘Hey, did you watch the last game, Coach? We played the 1-3-1 (zone).’ He looked up at me and he smiled. Then I said, ‘We really didn’t play 1-3-1.’ And he started laughing and his daughters were laughing, but I’m just happy that he’s close enough that I can go see him now and again.”

Calipari said he normally calls Hall’s daughter to check on him because he doesn’t want to just “bust in” the nursing home where Hall resides. However, Calipari readily admitted Wednesday that he misses him at practice.

“When I could come in and see he and Al (Robinson) and the guys there. I haven’t seen John Y. – Gov. (Brown) – hasn’t been in. But yeah, the biggest thing I can tell you is – look, here’s what I’d say: Guys leave a job that they’ve been in and had success. Let’s be real, how much do they really want the next guy to win? I’m just going to be honest. They’ll encourage you to hire somebody that they know they can’t win,” Calipari said.

” I’ve been blessed. Jack Leaman, just like Coach Hall. Coach Leaman was my biggest supporter, my mentor, my psychiatrist. Here’s what he would do: ‘You want to go for coffee?’ That meant he wanted to talk basketball. This was Coach Leaman. And he would not start until I’d say, ‘Coach, what do you think?’ And then he’d just go for 40 minutes. But he’d wait for me to say it. Coach Hall was similar.

“Coach (Gene) Bartow. Can you imagine? I walk into Memphis and Coach Bartow is there and my biggest cheerleader, and the guy that promoted and helped and was a mentor to me. And then I come here and it’s the same thing (with) Coach Hall.”

Calipari repeated the story about his first practice as UK coach after taking over for Billy Gillispie. Hall was there when Calipari thought it was the football team because he had 22 players at practice.

“I made all of the walk-ons – like there are 11 of them – go to the side and put their toes on the sideline so I could just see. Then I had the managers on the block and when a kid shot it, I made them yell out his name and say, ‘Good shot, Patrick!’ I was trying to figure out who’s who,” Caliipari said.

“I knew Patrick (Patterson) and a couple of the guys, but then it was done, and I go into the room with my hands like this (motions to covering up his face). ‘Oh my God, what did I do? What have I done?’ And he (Hall) walks in and puts his hand on my back, and he says, ‘You don’t worry. You are going to be great here. You watch. Don’t worry about one day.’

“And that’s what the first thing was that he said to me. I’m just telling you, I’ve done this a long time. It is very unusual for the last coach to want the next one to win. There’s only going to be a few of us that are that way.”

2 Responses

  1. A lot of people don’t know this, but Joe b. Hall started the physical aspect in the game while he was coaching back in the70’s. Great picture of them both and thanks Joe for all the memories you gave us back in the day when college basketball was real.

  2. John take good care of joe b. Hall has a wonderful man and a coach. Also you are to . many god bless both of you.

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