Monday, February 9, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B • Page 3
Calipari awed by 100 years of coaching lore
By Erin Thompson
Kansan sportswriter
John Calipari considered himself an ant among giants during his time coaching for the Kansas Jayhawks.
"I was insignificant here. I left no mark here other than that I was a lowly grad volunteer," he said. "I was not high on the totem pole."
This weekend, the New Jersey Nets head coach returned to Kansas, where he began his coaching career, for the 100 years of basketball celebration. Calipari served as a graduate assistant for head coach Ted Owens during the 1982-83 season and was an assistant coach under Larry Brown from 1983-85.
"Of all the people here (this weekend), I was the most insignificant when I was here. For Larry Brown, I remember watering his flowers, picking up his laundry, walking his dog, getting coffee," he said. "It's just a pleasure for me to back and enjoy all the significant people ... who left their mark and carried the sword, because I'm obviously not one of them."
The Kansas coaching connection, beginning with the inventor of basketball, James Naismith, has produced several of the most successful college basketball coaches, including Phog Allen, Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp. Calipari said that playing even a minor role at Kansas was special because of that legacy.
"If you want to know basketball, and you want to know about the history of basketball, you've got to start right here," he said. "When you talk Larry Brown, you're talking through Dean Smith, who's talking through Phog Allen, who's talking through James Naismith. I look back and just say "Wow."
To shower in the locker room where Phog Allen once showered and to walk where Dean Smith once walked were more
than the money. Calipari said.
Calipari: coached under Larry Brown and Ted Owens
I had no money.
I had nothing,
and I had no worries," he said. "It was all basketball for me.
It was very pure for me.
And I think
that's why the memories coming back here are so special."
The history and tradition surrounding Kansas basketball create an atmosphere that is unmatched anywhere Calipari has coached, including the University of Massachusetts, he said.
"The feeling you get here is just different. This is it. This is the top, what it's all about," he said. "People are walking a foot off the ground. You see the former players come in, and you see how proud they are to say that they were a part of this."
Calipari said he learned at Kansas that the key to coaching at any level was recruiting good players who are fun to be around.
"In so many ways, it's the kind of people they have here. But the basketball's not changed," he said. "They haven't changed their standard of recruiting good people. I think that's why they've stayed at this level for so long."
Manning champions weekend
By Kevin C. Wilson
A decade after winning a national championship, Danny Manning returned to participate in this weekend's festivities.
Kansan sportswriter
The all-time leading scorer in Kansas basketball history and the hero of the miraculous 1988 NCAA Championship season returned to Lawrence to attend the 100th anniversary of Kansas basketball.
"It's a nice feeling to come back and see all the great players that have played at KU and all the friends I made while I was at KU," Manning said. "This is fun. It's something I was looking forward to."
Manning discussed his thoughts about the 1988 team that began the season with a 12-8 record —with hopes of getting into the NIT— and ended with the championship title.
"We were just a good team." Manning said. "We weren't the best team as far as talent. But we were the best team, and we took pride in that."
Manning reflected on his career at Kansas as well.
"I remember it just being a good time, and winning the championship was just the icing on the cake," Manning said. "Playing four years here. I met a
Manning, who grew up in North Carolina, said it was an easy decision to come to Kansas because he wanted his mother to see him play and because he wanted to be close to his family. He said he was not aware of the rich tradition at Kansas because he had grown up in Atlantic Coast Conference country.
lot of good people, made a lot of good friends and had a wonderful time."
"I really didn't know much about the history or tradition of Kansas basketball until I moved here my senior year in high school," Manning said. "Slowly but surely, each game I come to, I pick up on something. I really like it."
Manning, who plays with the Phoenix Suns, said that despite his busy NBA schedule, he still found time to watch his alma mater.
"I follow the Jayhawks all the time. I watch them with a sense of pride," Manning said. "I think that anybody who has ever played and been a part of this Kansas tradition will always follow the Jayhawks and expect great things of them. Coach Williams has done a tremendous job."
Forward Paul Pierce said that he noticed Manning's presence at the game yesterday.
"It was hard for me to concentrate on the game with Dean Smith and Danny Manning there," he said.
Danny Manning acknowledges the crowd as the 1988 national championship team is announced during the Legends Game yesterday. Manning was on hand for Saturday's game in Allen Field House. Photo by Steve Puppe/KANSAN
Dean Smith reminisces upon his return
By Kevin C. Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
the dean of college basketball returned to the place of his playing days to attend the 100th anniversary of Kansas basketball.
Dean Smith, the winning coach in college basketball history as well as a Kansas graduate and former player, spoke about his memories, his prodigal son Roy Williams, and how he's been spending his time since retiring from the University of North Carolina
Smith admitted that he had turned down the chance to leave North Carolina to coach at Kansas in 1983.
"Monte Johnson, (former Kansas athletics director), asked me to come in '83. I recommended Larry Brown at the time," Smith said.
head coach on Smith's recommendation. Smith said that he was impressed with the job Williams had done with the Jayhawks. He said that Williams' unprecedented 273-61 record couldn't have been better.
Brown led the Jayhawks to an NCAA title in 1988 and left after that year, at which time Williams became
"The players
Smith:turned down Kansas offer n1983
graduate and work hard. Kansas is lucky to have Roy. Roy is lucky to have that opportunity," he said.
Smith also spoke about his relationship with legendary coaches Phog Allen and Dick Harp.
and Dick Harp were really a team. They meant a lot to me," Smith said. "Doc's idea was fundamentals ... he was a marvelous motivator. Dick Harp was a brilliant strategist."
"Strange as it mav seem. Doc Allen
Smith said that Allen actually tried to talk him out of pursuing coaching.
"I told him I wanted to coach and he said, 'No you ought to go to med school,'" Smith said. "'Forget this coaching. There's too many heart-breaks, too many highs and depths.' I'm glad that's one time I didn't follow his advice."
So are the fans in North Carolina. Smith completed his stellar 36-year-career as head coach of the Tar Heels with 879 wins and 254 losses for a 77.6 winning percentage, sixth all-time. Smith guided North Carolina to NCAA Championships in 1982 and 1993. He said on Saturday that he was now happy to be retired.
Missouri coach Norm Stewart joked after the Kansas-Missouri game on Sunday that he had seen Dean Smith and wished he had asked him to coach the game.
But Smith said, "I made that decision to leave coaching and feel good about that decision, thinking I could get away from speaking and people recognizing me. I'm out, nobody can find me. I've turned down every speaking engagement, turned down every award."
"Kansas basketball—what a great tradition," Smith said. "One of the rich traditions in college sports anywhere. In university it's continue through Roy."
Smith also talked about how he had grown up dreaming of going to Kansas and what impact the Jayhawks' tradition had on college basketball.
Smith revealed in his experience at the 100th anniversary reunion.
"It was special to see all the guys," Smith said.
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