Unforgettables are Still Scared of Rock Oliver

Vicky Graff Photo

Coach Rick Pitino created one of Kentucky’s all-time favorite teams with The Unforgettables that combined Kentuckians John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus and Richie Farmer with Indiana’s Sean Woods. The team star was Jamal Mashburn, but those four had the heart and spirit UK fans loved.

Woods said as good as Pitino was, the person who deserved credit for what that 1991-92 team did to reach the NCAA Tournament East Region final before losing to Duke in overtime was strength coach Ray “Rock” Oliver, who is now UK’s executive associate athletics director for student success.

“Nobody knew who Rick Pitino’s best assistant was, that man who made us who we were … heart, mind, body, and soul. That is our guy right here. He gets all the kudos.  He scared us to win games. I just want you guys to know that’s Ray ‘Rock’ Oliver,” Woods said when The Unforgettables were back together at Rupp Arena recently for the first time since 1992.

“Everybody has to give him a round of applause. He was just as important in our success as any coach or any player during that time. He’s the only man still that I’m scared of and we are all still scared of, just so you know. That’s why we are successful right now because we are scared to fail. We know if we start acting up, he’s still mean enough and tough enough to kick our behinds.”