John Calipari and Rick Pitino compete as college coaches of rival universities and they may be opposing each other in international competitions as well. Calipari wrote on his website Tuesday afternoon he was considering coaching the Dominican Republic national team.
The Kentucky coach says he was approached by the Dominican Basketball Federation about coaching their national team during the season. He explains his potential role as the country’s coach, “Not only would I help train coaches in the Dominican Republic and here in Lexington like we have with the Chinese coaches, but I would also coach their national team.”
Calipari says the commitment would run from August to mid-September and that he would lead the team in the Tournament of the Americas. From the tone of his piece, it sure sounds like it will happen.
If Calipari accepts the position, he’ll join Louisville coach Rick Pitino as the coach of an international team. Pitino agreed to coach the Puerto Rican national team in December, and the move is thought to help the coaches broaden their recruiting reach.
