[UK Athletics Photo]
I don’t ever remember as many University of Kentucky basketball fans being excited about a new assistant coaching hire as what fans have been since Orlando Antigua officially rejoined the UK staff.
He was on John Calipari’s original staff and was here for the 2012 national title as well as the 2011 and 2014 Final Four berths.
Antigua is one of the reasons Kentucky fans are so excited again despite last season’s 9-16 record. ESPN has already put UK at No. 9 in its Way-Too-Early-Top 25 for next season.
So what if Kentucky won a national championship in 2022. Would that possibly position him to be the next Kentucky head coach if John Calipari retired?
On Wednesday’s JustTheCats radio show, host Michael Bennett asked Antigua if he had ever dreamed of being the head coach at UK.
Antigua responded with a quick no.
“I love being part of the team that I am and being a spoke in this wheel. I know the kind of experience this staff has. My job right now is to try to continue to help this staff and this team to have success,” Antigua said.
“Will I like to be a head coach one day? Sure. I’m not sure when that will happen again, and for that to be at Kentucky, that’s something that’s way out there.”
Maybe getting guard Davion Mintz back for another year is not as far out there.
Antigua told Bennett he would love a chance to coach Mintz and called him a “talented player” for a lot of reasons.
“He’s another guy that would add continued experience to this team. I’d love the chance to coach him, but he’s got to try to do what’s best for him and his family and the opportunity presented in front of him,” Antigua said. “Whatever that decision comes down to, we’re going to be fully supportive of him.”
