Calipari And UK Interested In Each Other

Thus the courtship begins...

"Hey, do you think he likes me...?"
"Why don't you go ask...?"
"No, why don't you go ask...?"

We've hit that stage where the two parties are in class and one of them is about to pass the note asking to check one box or the other...

From Jerry Tipton's blog in Lexington and the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper are telling us one of the worst-kept secrets on this or any other planet- that Memphis Head Coach John Calipari ((pictured, thanks Sue Ogrocki/AP)) might like to go out on a date soon with someone from the University of Kentucky.

From Tipton:

According to former UK All-American Mike Pratt, who provides commentary on radio broadcasts of games and will assist the search, Kentucky wants a coach who can handle all aspects of a high-profile coaching job: Strategy, recruiting, leadership, role model, motivator, public relations man and, in UK’s case, ambassador for the program, university and Commonwealth.

It also can be noted that friends of Calipari spread the word of his interest in the Kentucky job when it came open two years ago. So it’s easy to presume he’s still interested.

From Dan Wolken in Memphis:

University of Memphis coach John Calipari is open to meeting with officials from the University of Kentucky about its head coaching position and could do so as early as today, according to a source close to the situation.

As of Sunday night, Kentucky officials had not contacted Memphis asking permission to speak to Calipari, according to sports information director Lamar Chance.

ESPN.com reported Sunday night, citing a source close to Kentucky, that the school had gathered information on Calipari over the weekend.

Calipari has four years left on a contract that pays him $2.35 million annually, plus an annuity that averages $1 million over the course of the deal, which runs through 2013. Memphis, according to sources, has also been working on a contract extension that would significantly increase Calipari’s total package.

It’s still unclear whether Kentucky has made Calipari its top choice or whether Calipari would be inclined to take the job if offered.

WREG-TV caught up with Coach Cal when the team landed back in Memphis after their loss and he addressed the whole Kentucky-thing...

Kinda...