Kentucky’s assistant strength coach arrested on troubling assault charges
When John Calipari hired former Pittsburgh star Brian Shorter as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Kentucky two years ago, he had this to say to CoachCal.com about helping one of the first players he recruited head down a new career path.
"It’s the greatest thing being able to be in a position to do it," Calipari said. "Now, does Brian Shorter add something? Well, I don’t know. If he does, great, but if he doesn’t and we help another young man get on with his life, (I’m fine with it)."
Calipari surely had good intentions when he brought Shorter aboard, but one wonders if he has any regrets in light of Thursday's troubling news. Shorter, 46, was arrested by Lexington police Thursday morning and charged with fourth-degree assault and first-degree wanton endangerment at his home.
The alleged details of the incident revealed by Lex18.com are especially disturbing.
Shorter allegedly pushed his wife into their unheated garage, locked her in there for about 40 minutes and later returned and threw a bucket of water on her, according to the TV station. The temperature in Lexington on Thursday got as low as 1 degree.
Shorter starred at Pittsburgh from 1988 to 1991, averaging 17.8 points per game during his three-year career with the Panthers. He had a lengthy professional career in Italy before returning to Pittsburgh to get his degree a couple years ago.
