Chin Coleman (Illinois Athletics Photo)
It did not take long for Ronald “Chin” Coleman to make an impression on University of Kentucky basketball fans. Chin was officially added to John Calipari’s coaching staff at Kentucky Thursday along with Orlando Antigua, the former UK assistant who also returned to the staff after a seven-year absence.
Antigua and Coleman were both on the coaching staff at Illinois and had been rumored to be Calipari’s choices to replace Tony Barbee and Joel Justus.
Kentucky fans obviously know plenty about Antigua. With Chin, it’s new even though he’s built quite a reputation as a recruiter, especially in the Chicago area.
Kentucky basketball posted a video on Twitter of Coleman after a workout with a message for UK fans.
“Greeting Big Blue Nation. As you can see I am already getting prepared and already working hard to service you the best way that I can. It is truly a dream and my family and I are so so excited to be a part of Big Blue Nation and I promise I will not let you down,” Coleman said.
“Many, many more memories. Many, many more special moments. Many, many, many more championships and many, many, many, many, many great times. Let’s go Blue Nation.”
Those were words Big Blue Nation needed to hear and for Coleman to sense that immediately impressed me.
Antigua also had a video message on Twitter but his was short and sweet.
“We were part of creating some incredible memories the first time around and I am looking forward to getting back to work so we can create some new ones,” Antigua said.
That will work. In five years at UK, Kentucky went to three Final Fours with him on the bench. Kentucky won one national title and got beat in the title game once.
Those were the glory days for Calipari and the days UK fans want to see return with Coleman and Antigua now both officially on the staff.
