John Calipari heeds the proven tactics of his elders
The current Head Hog never strays too far from Nolan Richardson. And that is a great thing.
We devote so much time to narratives of our identity that paint us as a lone wolf hero. We’re Link, and we tackle every obstacle solo on the way to rescuing Princess Zelda. But even courageous, enterprising Link has Navi to help guide him when he’s stuck.
I’ve been deep in this idea again this week. I spent the first half learning about building more equitable educational institutions with other leaders, and the second half visiting with my Dad about generations of parenting in our family. Both of those experiences this week have reinforced the theme that everything we’ve ever accomplished, and everything we will attain from here on out, was built on the efforts of those who came before us. Listen to other people’s experiences and learn from them. Especially if that person has already accomplished the very thing you want to achieve.
John Calipari clearly believes in this theme, too.
More than just a name on the court
Two different times this week, Calipari has spent some time with Nolan Richardson. First, Cal had dinner with Richardson at Herman’s. Second, Calipari invited Richardson to (again) visit Arkansas Razorbacks practice and gave him the chance to speak to the team.
(It should also be noted that Calipari also used his social media this week to wish a happy birthday to a mentor from his UMass days, so this isn’t just something he’s doing to appease Arkansas fans.)
Numerous aspects of Calipari's brief tenure at Arkansas make him easy to like. His insistence on bringing and keeping Richardson in the fold is probably the most endearing to Razorback fans. Despite all the history and the litigious end, a recent poll of Arkansas Razorbacks fans showed that over 95 percent of them support building a Richardson statue outside Bud Walton Arena.
And there’s good reason for that, too.
The Road Map
Richardson is the only basketball coach in my lifetime (and I’m inching ever closer to finishing my second score) to even sniff a National Championship, let alone win one. No football coach has been close, either, for that matter. You want to hear something wild? Even with all that, there are still Arkansas fans who will claim that Richardson never could coach.
Luckily for all of us, Calipari sees through that nonsense.
Let’s play out a little scenario here. Let’s say that you just started a new job as a long-haul trucker hauling peach baskets across the country. You are assigned to drive the most challenging route in the industry. You have an initial 30-hour gauntlet, followed directly by six grueling hours to reach your destination. Only one person in the entire profession has ever driven that route successfully, and he still lives down the street from your new company’s truck terminal.
So, let me ask you this: Do you think you’d go talk to that guy?
Calipari would.
No one is arguing that Calipari needs Richardson’s counsel to win a National Championship. At the same time, learning your program’s history directly from the mustachioed horse’s mouth is a surefire way to help you repeat the really good parts.
Calipari gets it. No one gets anywhere alone.
Especially all those folks with statues.