Joel Justus (UK Athletics Photo)
John Calipari said Wednesday that assistant coach Joel Justus had his “blessing” to leave Kentucky after seven seasons to become an assistant coach at Arizona State under coach Bobby Hurley. Not quite sure that Justus needed Calipari’s “blessing” to leave but I did like Calipari explaining that Justus was a “big, big part” of Kentucky’s success — something I am not sure most UK fans fully appreciate.
“From Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Keldon Johnson to Immanuel Quickley and others, Joel was not only the point guy with some of our players who became special, he helped develop them, teach them and challenge them,” Calipari said in a statement from UK.
“Joel is one of the top young assistants in the country who I believe will make a heck of a head coach someday soon. I wish him the best and I will always be a great supporter of his.”
While he was on UK’s staff, the Cats won 187 games, got to the Final Four and three Elite Eights, and won four Southeastern Conference regular-season championships.
After a 9-16 season, it made sense that Calipari would have to make changes. Assistant Tony Barbee, who played under Calipari, has left to become head coach at Central Michigan. Justus is making a move to continue as an assistant coach but it is a fresh break from UK that is good for him and Kentucky.
“The memories I have of this place, the players I have been fortunate enough to coach and form lifelong relationships with, and the honor I have had to coach at the winningest program in college basketball is something I will never take for granted. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime,” Justus said.
Believe him. He put his heart and soul into the Kentucky basketball program. He was popular with fans and from a media standpoint always helpful and easy to work with considering the restrictions UK keeps on assistants having contact with the media.
Justus wants to be a head coach and says he will “continue to chase my dreams” working for Bobby Hurley, the former Duke point guard.
“Coach Hurley was an icon and a role model of mine growing up, and to have the opportunity to learn from him was something I just couldn’t pass up, similar to when I began this journey seven years ago under a Hall of Fame coach in John Calipari,” Justus said.
The Athletic named Justus one of the top 40 people in college basketball under 40 and ESPN named him one of the nation’s top 40 coaches less than 40 years old in 2020.
