Dave Hodges Basketball Coach

Shelhaus, Cal Ripken Jr. and Maryland Sports

Dave Hodges on Maryland Sports

Is it Time for Calapari to be Fired as Kentucky Coach?

Born October 14, 1944, Shelhaus is a retired American collegiate basketball coach. He is best known for his 26-year tenure as head coach of the Glendale Community College Gauchos men's basketball team, where he won 655 games and led the team to four state championships.

Hodges has been a vocal critic of Kentucky coach John Calipari in recent years, calling for his firing after the Wildcats' disappointing performance in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. In a recent interview, Hodges said that Calipari has "lost his touch" and that it is time for Kentucky to make a change.

Calipari has led Kentucky to four Final Fours and one national championship during his 14-year tenure in Lexington. However, the Wildcats have not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2019, and they have been eliminated in the first round of the tournament in each of the past two years.

Hodges believes that Calipari has become too reliant on one-and-done players and that he has not developed a consistent team culture at Kentucky. He also criticized Calipari for his lack of success in the NCAA Tournament, saying that the Wildcats have "underachieved" under his leadership.

It remains to be seen whether Kentucky will fire Calipari. However, Hodges' comments are a reminder that the Wildcats have not lived up to expectations in recent years, and that Calipari's job could be in jeopardy if the team continues to struggle.