FAYETTEVILLE — John Calipari’s first Arkansas men’s basketball staff is coming together.
Calipari, who was hired April 10, has brought several members of his Kentucky on-court and support staff to the Natural State. Kenny Payne, Chin Coleman and Chuck Martin have been announced to be on the staff and Calipari said Wednesday that former Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis will be joining the staff on “Ways to Win,” a podcast he co-hosts with former Oregon State coach Craig Robinson.
Calipari did not specify what role Ulis would have at Arkansas.
The University of Arkansas staff directory indicates Calipari has brought several with him from Kentucky in off-court roles. Specific jobs have not been announced, but former Kentucky video coordinator Kevin Butty, associate to the head coach James “Bruiser” Flint, assistant video coordinator Kevin Gallagher and associate athletics director for basketball operations Chris Woolard are all listed as staff members in the UA directory.
Some members of former coach Eric Musselman’s staff are still listed on the directory, but it is not clear if they will be retained on the new staff.
Flint was Calipari’s successor at Massachusetts after being on his staff for seven years. Flint spent the 2020-21 season as a Kentucky assistant before becoming associate to the head coach.
Calipari’s son Brad is also listed in the UA directory. He served as Vanderbilt’s director of on-court player development last season after serving in the same position at Long Island. He played for his father for three seasons at Kentucky before transferring to Detroit.
Ulis spent the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant under Calipari, allowing him to participate in on-court workouts and all coaching activities but recruiting.
On the podcast, Calipari said he wants graduate assistants who have either played professionally in Europe or have just finished their collegiate careers.
Ulis averaged 11.3 points and 5.2 assists over two years at Kentucky and was a key figure on the 38-1 Kentucky team that was upset by Wisconsin at the 2015 Final Four. He broke the Wildcats’ single-season assist record during his sophomore year.
He was selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He played three NBA seasons and averaged 7.5 points and 4 assists.
Ulis also played for the Chicago Bulls. His career was hampered by hip, muscle and leg injuries.
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