BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 05, 2017 - Indiana Hoosiers Assistant Coach Bruiser Flint during the exhibition game against the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds and the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Craig Bisacre/Indiana Athletics
It’s hard for assistant college basketball coaches not to get certain labels attached to their names. Great recruiter. Big man coach. Terrific bench coach. Point guard guru.
So what does John Calipari hope will be new assistant coach Bruiser Flint’s role at UK? The answer — Calipari isn’t exactly sure.
“We got to get together and figure out, you know, what’s the best thing for these kids with this staff that we’re piecing together,” Calipari said.
Flint, a former assistant coach under Calipari at UMass, came to UK from Indiana once Kenny Payne left to join the New York Knicks. Payne was considered a big-man guru — but Calipari sets that was not exactly accurate.
“You’re right, he would work with big guys. Well, he’s not a big guy. Doesn’t mean you can’t show them and teach them. There were times Kenny was with (guards) Tyler Herro or Devin (Booker). He was in it with Devin Booker in the gym at 11 o’clock at night,” Calipari said.
“I mean, it didn’t matter. We’re coaches here. We’ll get pigeonholed at times, but I want my guys to coach basketball.”
He also doesn’t want to depend on any specific coach to be his main recruiter. Instead, he wants it to be a team effort and that won’t change with Flint — or even more recent addition Jai Lucas — to the staff.
“We all recruit together. We’re not having you going to recruit this guy, you’re going to recruit this guy,” Calipari said. “And here’s what I come back to: You have Kentucky to sell, the results of what this is, and me and the results. I mean, that’s you.
“You go in and that’s where it is and it’s bang, let’s go. And now, if someone else has to jump in on the recruiting, they do.”
