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As we are all aware of by now, Coach Cal has received a contract extension from the University of Kentucky to continue to coach its very prestigious basketball program.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Coach Cal’s new contract is an eight-year deal worth $36.5 million, making him among the top paid coaches in the nation.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Arial]Ole Miss Coach Andy Kennedy and Florida Coach Billy Donovan have [/FONT]spoke out about Calipari’s extension([URL=”http://ukbasketball.bloginky.com/2011/06/27/sec-coaches-salute-cal-for-new-contract/”]source[/URL])[/FONT][FONT=Arial].
Andy Kennedy had quite a bit to say about both Calipari and the UK program in general…
[/FONT][QUOTE][FONT=Arial][FONT=Arial]Well, obviously, [/FONT][FONT=Arial]Coach [/FONT][FONT=Arial]Cal[/FONT][FONT=Arial] has done a tremendous job. And I’ve said this many times, I think when you start setting the standard for the epitome for success for college basketball, you start with [/FONT][FONT=Arial]Kentucky[/FONT][FONT=Arial]. No offense to [/FONT][FONT=Arial]Cal[/FONT][FONT=Arial], but that started way before he got there. Obviously, it’s the most storied program in the history of college basketball. The most passionate fan base of any collegiate following that I’ve ever been a part of. And he’s done a tremendous job of going in and selling that product. He’s an excellent coach.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][FONT=Arial]I’ve always said, it helps [/FONT][FONT=Arial]SEC[/FONT][FONT=Arial] basketball for [/FONT][FONT=Arial]Kentucky[/FONT][FONT=Arial] to be [/FONT][FONT=Arial]Kentucky[/FONT][FONT=Arial]. So I think it’s good for our league for them to be enjoying the success that they have.[/FONT]
[/FONT][/QUOTE][FONT=Arial]Billy Donovan also spoke high praise about Kentucky’s strong tradition…[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][QUOTE]Every program aspires to build that kind of tradition. . . Kentucky’s always been Kentucky. It’s been that way for 60 years. . . . They are truly the measuring stick.[/QUOTE][/FONT]
