Best Selling Books by John Calipari

Now with a new chapter on the Wildcats'' legendary comeback in the 2014 Final Four John Calipari, one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history, presents the world of college basketball from the coach''s chair, unvarnished and straight from the heart. Players First is Calipari''s account of his first six years coaching the University of Kentucky men''s team, leading it to a national championship in 2012 and the championship game in 2014, all while dealing with the realities of the "one-and-done" mentality and an NCAA that sometimes seems to put players last. Filled with revelatory stories about what it takes to succeed at the highest level of the college game, Players First is a candid look at the great players and rivalries that have filled Calipari''s life with joy and a sense of purpose.

NCAA finalist University of Memphis men''s basketball team coach John Calipari writes about turning life''s setbacks into successes.

Kentucky’s charismatic coach shares the secrets of creating one of the premiere programs in college basketball, revealing how he transforms a group of former high school superstars into selfless, cohesive teams—including a remarkable squad last year that fell just one game short of a perfect season. Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari is known for his unparalleled ability to recruit the nation’s best young players, some of whom will spend just one year with him before going to the NBA, and convincing them to commit to the team without sacrificing their personal goals. It is a promise he makes to them: "Fully invest in the present—and each other—and I guarantee it will serve your future." Here, for the first time, he distills his team-building methods in ways that apply to CEOs, business owners, coaches, teachers and leaders of all kinds—lessons for anyone seeking to inspire talented individuals to reach for their best selves and contribute to a greater good. A basketball team is an intimate workplace, in which blend is everything and character matters. As such, it is a window into the nature of successful leadership. Calipari views each new team like a startup business—one composed of new players, new relationships, and new challenges. Each season is a series of discoveries as he learns how to unleash the extreme talent in each of his players and mold them into championship material as college basketball comes to a crescendo every spring. While he can’t control everything, he is responsible for everything—just like a CEO. An enlightening look at leadership, management, and team building, Success Is the Only Option offers the keys to winning, on and off the court.

The inspiring and motivational inside story of 1996 UMass Minutemen coach John Calipari details his winning philosophy, "Refuse to Lose," which led the team, for the first time in their history, to the Final Four and resulted in professional and personal victory.

A must for any coach who wants to thoroughly understand the half-court offense, its potential, and the defensive weaknesses it exploits.

Coach Cal shares why every man, woman, and child needs to find mentors lots of them! Coach John Calipari, head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky, calls his mentors his "Kitchen Cabinet." Growing up in sports and later as a college and NBA basketball coach, John learned how to be successful in coaching and in life through the many lessons he learned from his mentors. In Swim to the Buoy, he shares that mentors are like lifebuoys: sometimes you need them when you''re drowning in a situation, sometimes you need them for sound advice, and other times you just need to bounce your ideas off someone. Coach Cal outlines a proven strategy that anyone can follow to be the kind of person that mentors want to help. He strongly encourages his readers to recognize when a buoy is being thrown their way. Students, parents, and even business people can learn how to get to the next level in life by swimming to the buoy!