John Calipari does a lot of work with various charities. (UK Athletics Photo)
John Calipari has been good at winning basketball games and developing players to where they can make a lucrative living playing basketball for many years.
But no one has been better at Calipari when it comes to charitable work during his time at Kentucky and that’s why he’ll receive the prestigious Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service in Sports by Multiplying Good.
“I am humbled to be recognized in this way,” Calipari said in a release from UK. “As I look back at my career in basketball and serving the community, things like this will matter to me more than any other award or recognition.”
He should be proud of this award and what it means. Multiplying Good has honored those who put others first for over 50 years. Founded over 50 years ago by Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Sen. Bob Taft Jr., and Sam Beard, Multiplying Good is the world’s most foremost and highly celebrated organization focused on and honoring public service.
Just look at some of the past recipients to get an idea how special this award is. Some of those past winners are Arthur Ashe, Tom Brokaw, Larry Fitzgerald, Betty Ford, John Glenn, Bob Hope, Steve Jobs, Shaquille O’Neal, General Colin Powell, John D. Rockefeller and Oprah Winfrey.
Calipari is the first men’s college basketball coach to receive the honor.
During his 13 years at UK, Calipari has helped raise more than $12 million for the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 2012 Superstorm Sandy, 2017 Hurricane Harvey and in the last year tornado relief in western Kentucky and flood relief in eastern Kentucky. The Calipari Foundation helps over 30 charities and in 2019 Calipari and his wife helped Lexington federal workers who were not getting paid because of a government shutdown.
Calipari helped create the McClendon Minority Leadership Initiative in 2020 to provide access and opportunity for men and women of color within college athletic departments across the country.
He preaches servant leadership to his players and has been active with Samaritan’s Feet — he recently helped deliver shoes to eastern Kentucky flood victims. His team annually helps feed families at the Salvation Army at Thanksgiving and his players often visit hospitals.
Former UK players Devin Booker, DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall have all earned the NBA’s Cares Community Assist Award for their service to others.
Calipari has had six Finals Four teams and won the 2012 national title at UK. He has a 365-101 record at UK with four Final Four appearances, six Southeastern Conference regular-season championships and six league tournament titles.
It’s not hard to second guess Calipari — or any coach or sportswriter for that matter — at times. However, don’t second guess his commitment to helping others or making sure his players understand the value of doing the same.
This is a huge, huge honor for Calipari. He talked over the weekend at his fantasy camp about his team “chasing greatness” this season but seems to me with an award like this he’s already found the right path to greatness.
