Why John Calipari, Arkansas basketball hired former Louisville coach Kenny Payne

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas basketball is about to embark on a new era under John Calipari, but there will be plenty of familiar faces along side the longtime Kentucky head coach.

The Razorbacks brought in three former Wildcats as transfers and another three high school recruits who were previously committed to Kentucky. Calipari also hired a pair of assistant coaches and a whole swath of support staff members from Lexington.

But the biggest name of Calipari’s assistants is Kenny Payne, who most recently served as Louisville’s head coach. He spent 10 years on Calipari’s Kentucky staff before a brief stint with the New York Knicks brought Payne to Louisville.

Payne experienced a brutal tenure with the Cardinals, going 12-52 and won five ACC games across two years.

Calipari wants Payne to forget those struggles.

“I looked at Kenny and I said, ‘What I want you to remember, you’re Kenny — I used an adjective — Payne,” Calipari said. “Don’t you forget that. And I want you to come here and be that same guy.”

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At a Tuesday press conference previewing practice, and the upcoming tip-off tour to Hot Springs and Pine Bluff, Calipari shared a variety of reasons why he brought Payne to Fayetteville.

According to the Arkansas head coach, Payne brings invaluable experience to the staff, from his offensive and defensive game plans down to his recruiting. In a brand-new program, Calipari felt it was important that there was already a strong comfort level between himself and his top assistant.

But Calipari also believes Payne will dramatically help his players. At Kentucky, Payne helped the Wildcats win the 2012 NCAA Championship, play for the 2014 NCAA Championship, advance to four Final Fours and reach a total of eight Sweet 16s.

“I want guys on this staff that bring value to young people. They don’t need to tell me what I want to hear. I’ve done this enough,” Calipari said.

“Do you add value? Do you help them get better? Do you tell them the truth? Are you trying to just be their friend? Will they respect you, because you’re keeping it real? You’re telling them what they need to hear, and hopefully we’ve got a staff full of guys, and I believe we do, that will be that way.”

The latest addition to the staff was Tyler Ulis, who was announced as an Arkansas basketball assistant on Sept. 20.

Ulis was the 2016 SEC Player of the Year and consensus first team All-American under current Arkansas head coach John Calipari while he was at Kentucky. The Phoenix Suns selected Ulis in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft, but his playing career was cut short due to an injury from a car accident.

Calipari has repeatedly stressed his personality as a players-first coach since arriving at Arkansas in the spring, and giving Ulis his first chance at a new career was another important example of that mindset.

“When he was my point guard, he did a lot of coaching of the team. I never said no to any of his suggestions,” Calipari said.

“To give him a start, let him get going, be an on-the-court coach, and the kids will respect him.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Why John Calipari hired Kenny Payne on his Arkansas basketball staff