It’s a fool who thinks UK is going to land the other Billy, or any other high profile name, for the other president of UK: the head basketball coach.
The grass is hardly greener at UK than their respective empires, so given that, everyone, say hello to Travis Ford — again.
For the last 24 hours, fans and the media both have been touting the same names to become the new head coach of men’s basketball at UK. But a quick bit of common sense can narrow down the list.
Illustration by Justin Linne | Staff
Rick Pitino isn’t coming back. He likes Louisville, the Cards made a solid run at the championship, and the future for Pitino is very bright about 70 miles away down Interstate 64.
Billy Donovan is staying in Gainesville, Fla., because if he wanted the job, he would have come two years ago. Besides, the Orlando Magic is still a more attractive job and he didn’t stay with them for more than a weekend.
John Calipari, Tom Izzo, Jay Wright and Darrin Horn won’t leave their teams either. The first two are cementing legacies at their institutions and the second two aren’t ready to leave their teams yet — if they ever will be. Izzo secured Michigan State its fifth Final Four under his leadership.
You can cross off John Pelphrey as well, because he isn’t ready, and if UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart gets that far down the list, the Cats should have just kept Billy Gillispie.
That leaves three realistic options — Travis Ford, Sean Miller of Xavier and Thad Matta of Ohio State. You can probably cross off Miller because he’s waiting for a Big East job, and X through Matta because all he had is one truly successful year and Ohio State basketball doesn’t bring an ounce of the same pressures as UK basketball does.
So, if you want to sound like the most knowledgeable kid in your circle of friends, stick with Ford. Track his flights if you prefer, could be smart.
Because the talk about Donovan, Pitino, Calipari and Izzo is foolish and all four have already publicly commented they weren’t interested in leaving their respective schools.
That means UK and Barnhart need to employ the Roy Williams approach — get a former player or assistant coach that knows exactly what it means to coach at UK and has proven themselves at other places because that’s what Barnhart and UK President Lee Todd have expressed as needed to be UK head coach.
“It includes a lot more than coaching and recruiting. It’s like a president’s job, nobody writes out exactly what you have to do, but there is a lot to it,†Todd said during Friday’s news conference announcing Gillispie’s firing. “Philosophically, we need someone who nurtures the entire Big Blue Nation, has a philosophy that this is a unique opportunity and job, and understands it is a lot broader than what happens on the floor.â€
Ford, a Madisonville, Ky., native (who could relate directly to recruit Jon Hood and who also chased after recruit Daniel Orton), transferred to UK after one year at Missouri, playing for Pitino from 1991-94. He was there when the Cats clawed out of probation to return to national prominence. Ford was a point guard; he could help push Michael Porter or DeAndre Liggins into better players.
And when it comes to his coaching, he led Eastern Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament, giving Tubby Smith’s 2005 team hell in the first round. He returned UMass to semi-prominence in two years, an area the Minutemen hadn’t seen since Calipari had left that job.
This year, he took Oklahoma State to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Obviously, Ford can coach wherever he goes. When Gillispie was hired two years ago, Ford was a long shot candidate.
Now, he’s a top choice to be the next coach at UK. Not because he’s a former player, but because Ford deserves to be.
Get your plane trackers and banners ready. Travis Ford should be coming back to town.
Kenny Colston is a journalism junior. E-mail kcolston@kykernel.com.
I totally agree, get someone that everyone knows the true background on and who will get the job done. Not necessarily a championship right away, but at least to the NCAA. In time we will be the Elite team once again, and what better coach to receive the title than Travis Ford.
If Travis Ford is the best we can do? Than we should have kept BCG.
No Ford!
Travis Ford can flat out coach, but can he recruit? There is where the real question lies. If he does come don’t expect a miracle right away. He can get it done it will take more than 2 yrs.
The thing I have against Travis Ford and it is not his fault is; he is just too young and inexperienced. Playing at UK as a Student/Athelete is still different than coaching at the Nation’s most demanding and highest profile college basketball job. The pressure here at UK is enormous. Sure Travis realizes this, but can he handle it? I would hate to find out that he can’t after it is too late………
Let Travis grow up and have some experience at OSU. In 5 or 10 years from now, (If he is doing good and we need a coach), he would be like seasoned wood and ready to burn. Bring him to UK then and stand back and let the man coach.
Now that Pitino is beginning to realize that he WILL NOT accomplish at U of L, what he did at UK maybe he may consider coming back? I would dangle the thought of Callipari coming in her to mess with Rick’s immense ego and the thought that someone would come in here and eclipse his record in the 90′s. If that doesn’t work then go to plan B and hire Ford. He won’t have the immediate impact that either of the other guys already mentioned but should do well over the long haul.
The last time we hired an up and coming head coach, he was fired after two years. But I agree, if Travis Ford is our best option, we should have just given Billy another year.
Travis Ford has just as bad a reputation as BCG does with his off court attitude. He’s rude to the media and his players don’t like him. What’s the point of bringing in someone like that? I thought that’s what we were trying to get rid of! Plus he’s way too inexperienced. I vote Cal.
Lee Todd should be the only person that understands this issue, unfortunately his staff (Barnhart) doesnt understand what this is about in KY. It is not President Todds background with IBM that makes him a great leader for UK, it is his passion for Kentucky – because he is from Erlanger. There are plenty of great coaches that would consider UK, and Billy Clyde may have been one of them – but it is the deep down passion for the state and understanding of the importance of KY tradition that puts the person above all others – think about!
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Sorry Kenny,
Nice guy, wrong fit.
Anthony, Todd is from Earlington, Ky., not Erlanger (according to his biography, anyway). I had to look that up because I am from Erlanger and I had never heard he was from there! :)
Calipari blows Ford out of the water.
If you think Travis Ford is a good hire as the UK coach then you do not know what UK basketball is all about. Yes he was a great player for UK and is doing well as a coach but he isn’t even remotely ready to coach at Kentucky. Calipari on the other hand is a “SLAM DUNK” and exactlt what Kentucky Basketball and it’s fans need. We will love him and he will love us. I bet RICKY is getting nervous!!! Better take that Arizona job Rick. GO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BCG being gone is great, but turn around and follow up with another blunder. Ford is not ready, not approven recruiter. Calipari is a great recruiter but similiar to tricky Ricky he can’t seem to win when it matters the most. But with all the choices I believe he is the best for the job. His arrogance and ego will help only if he can be the ambassador the University is looking for. Great Coach and thorn in the side for Pitino and the Red Birds just 70 miles away. I here the family is wanting the move so you no mom is going to win. Lexington over Memphis no brainer for my family.
Also this is a way to get even with the two coaches that have shunned this University. By spanking there butt for the next few years, and cause them to second guess there choice and decision making.
“Because the talk about Donovan, Pitino, Calipari and Izzo is foolish and all four have already publicly commented they weren’t interested in leaving their respective schools.”
Really Kenny? Foolish? You will never make it in real journalism. Not because you were wrong, but because you were so arrogant about a topic no one could ACTUALLY know about.
Just wanted to come out and ask do you feel like a total idiot now that Calipari has come to Kentucky and proved that you dont know jack squat. Thanks write more articles about stuff you know nothing of.