Calipari denies report he wants out of Kentucky: 'I have no interest in the Pelicans or any other job'
Big-time names are rumored to be flocking to the New Orleans Pelicans head coaching vacancy like a squadron of the franchise's namesake birds.
On Tuesday, John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that John Calipari told Pelicans officials he is interested in the job, something the Kentucky coach quickly shot down.
Even though Anthony and Tyreke are in NOLA, I have no interest in the Pelicans or any other job. I have a great job and I'm happy at UK.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 19, 2015
Calipari coached Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans in Lexington, winning his first national championship with Davis in 2012. Last week, Calipari reportedly received an extension from Kentucky that features an odd caveat designed to deter an NBA jump: a rumored $1.6-million bonus if he is still with the Wildcats on July 1 of this year.
Beyond the denial, stories have circulated since March that the coach "desperately wants" another shot in the NBA. Calipari, one of the biggest names in college coaching, managed just a 72-112 record in two-plus seasons as the Nets bench boss in the late 1990s.
The Pelicans reportedly interviewed Golden State Warriors assistant coach Alvin Gentry on Monday, and an impending game of chicken awaits as Tom Thibodeau's tenure with the Chicago Bulls is expected to soon come to an end.