CLEVELAND — When Kentucky’s basketball team emerges from timeouts, the last coach to speak to players tends to be not John Calipari but John Robic, his assistant. As the huddle breaks up, Robic grabs as many players as he can and shows them a diagram of the court on a whiteboard, walking them through what is about to happen one more time.

 

Robic is hands-on before games, too. He sits and watches both teams warm up. He runs drills for the guards, throwing hard passes in suit pants and dress shoes. He takes copious notes on his copy of the opponent’s roster. Calipari, by contrast, usually emerges only a few minutes before the national anthem.

 

These roles partly reflect the personalities of the two coaches, who are in their 17th season together. Calipari is extroverted and boisterous; Robic is introverted and dry. Calipari’s expressions are dynamic; Robic has a steady gaze. Calipari has carefully slicked-back black hair; Robic has a mop of blond and gray.

 

The division of labor is partly strategic. If Calipari had tried to do it all, he might not have led Kentucky to three of the past four Final Fours or to a 36-0 record this season entering the N.C.A.A. tournament’s round of 16.

 

 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/sports/ncaabasketball/john-robic-the-coach-behind-the-coach-at-kentucky.html?_r=1

I love me some Robes.

I believe that most Head Coaches have a John Robic, if not several. Even in High School. With saying that, I'm a big fan of Robic and glad he's by Calipari's side on UK's Bench.

JR is as geniune as they come.

I would think this type of situation is the rule rather than the exception. As someone said above, most every coach has his version of Robic. They just don't coach on a team who is 36-0 at the moment.

A good coach surrounds himself with strong coaching Robes was a great pick up for UK. Cal is the man

I believe that most Head Coaches have a John Robic, if not several. Even in High School. With saying that, I'm a big fan of Robic and glad he's by Calipari's side on UK's Bench.

 

Agreed, Robic is great. He has been with Cal for a long, long time. I have wondered that if and/or when Cal decides it's time to go for whatever reason if Robic would be offered or would consider the job, with his age and years with Cal.

I have wondered that if and/or when Cal decides it's time to go for whatever reason if Robic would be offered or would consider the job, with his age and years with Cal.

 

I honestly don't think he'd want it.

I like Robic but my favorite assistant has to be Barry Rohrssen. Have you seen those nice three-piece suits he wears? I call him Calipari's consigliere.