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John Calipari has enjoyed a hall of fame career as a basketball coach, and the honors continue to roll in for him.
After being inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this summer, Calipari now has been honored by the school where he got his big coaching break. On Wednesday night, the UMass Minutemen celebrated the 20th anniversary of the men’s basketball team’s magical run to the 1996 Final Four that was led by Calipari.
Before UMass’s game against the University of New Orleans at the Mullins Center in Amherst, the school raised a banner honoring Cal and his 193 wins he coached the school to from 1988–96. Here is a video of the ceremony, via Mass Live:
So many great memories from the 90s at this place. pic.twitter.com/EAPqk7t85X
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) December 17, 2015
Thank you, @UKCoachCalipari! #UMassFamily pic.twitter.com/SgpgDhw1Px
— UMass Basketball (@UMassBasketball) December 17, 2015
Standing ovation for Kentucky coach and former UMass coach John Calipari here at the Mullins Center. pic.twitter.com/Hb7DDzgCTg
— Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) December 17, 2015
. @UKCoachCalipari says, "coaches win games, administrations win championships". #UMassFamily #RefuseToLose pic.twitter.com/kHoKeaMEjq
— UMass Basketball (@UMassBasketball) December 17, 2015
Unforgettable era on the court tonight. We know Coach Leaman is watching. And smiling. #UMassFamily pic.twitter.com/UKD5ieNpKF
— UMass Basketball (@UMassBasketball) December 17, 2015
During his tenure at UMass, Calipari led the Minuteman to five straight Atlantic 10 championships from ’92–’96, as well as the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Final Four in ’96. UMass also wore an honorary jersey for the special occasion:
Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring back the cursive "U" with @UKCoachCalipari in town! pic.twitter.com/xQSXLyBVGC
— UMass Basketball (@UMassBasketball) December 15, 2015
After the celebration, UMass defeated New Orleans in a 103-95 overtime thriller.