John Calipari has coached in both the NBA and NCAA. From 1988-96, he was head coach at the University of Massachusetts. In 1996, he was named Naismith & Sporting News National Coach of the Year.

From 1996-99, he was head coach and Executive VP of basketball operations for the NBA's New Jersey Nets. During the 2000 season, he was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers under coach Larry Brown.

From 2000-2009 he was the head coach of the University of Memphis. In his first five years at Memphis, Calipari won 115 games, posted five-straight 20-win season and earned five-consecutive postseason bids. He took Memphis to the Final Four in 2007-2008

In 2009 he was named the head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky. He led the University of Kentucky Men's Basketball team to win the 2011-12 NCAA National Championship.