John Calipari adds longtime NBA assistant John Welch to Kentucky basketball coaching staff
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky men's basketball added to its staff Monday, hiring John Welch as an assistant coach.
Welch will help coach John Calipari and his staff with developing offensive strategies, as well as contributing to scouting and game planning. Welch also will do on-court individual training and film sessions with players.
Welch is not replacing former UK assistant K.T. Turner, who left after one season to become the new head coach at UT Arlington.
Instead, Welch's position is a new one. A recent NCAA rule change allows schools to add two full-time assistants who are allowed to provide on-court instruction and fulfill other coaching duties, but they are not permitted to take part in off-campus recruiting.
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“I am thrilled to be joining the Kentucky basketball program,” Welch said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Coach Cal and his tremendous coaching and support staff. Helping players grow and develop has always been my passion as a coach, and I can’t wait to get in the gym with our team this summer."
Welch has been an assistant coach in the NBA for nearly two decades, with almost 10 years in the college ranks before moving into the pros.
"He loves the game and will be a tremendous asset to our young players and our staff," Calipari said in a news release. "John has worked closely for decades with Vance Walberg, who developed the dribble-drive offense, and was a pioneer of bringing it to the NBA. With the strength of our guards and perimeter players we need to get back to that style of play."
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Welch most recently worked as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2016 through 2020. The Clippers reached the playoffs twice during that time, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals in his final season. Welch also had assistant coaching stints with the Sacramento Kings (2015-16), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15), Denver Nuggets (2005-13) and Memphis Grizzlies (2002-05).
Notable coaches Welch has worked under previously include Hubie Brown, George Karl, Jason Kidd, Doc Rivers and Jerry Tarkanian. Welch was an assistant for seven seasons under Tarkanian at Fresno State.
Welch played collegiately at Nevada and then UNLV, under Tarkanian, and was on the 1985-86 team that went 33-5 record. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with UNLV shortly after and was part of the program when it earned a Final Four berth in 1987.
Welch's son, Riley Welch, was a two-year letterwinner for the Wildcats and spent last season as a grad assistant for Calipari.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball coaching staff: Calipari adds John Welch from NBA
