Coach Cal's mailbag

The television broadcast mentioned Larry Brown was in the crowd at Rupp against Georgia? How much influence has he had on your career? – Freddy

Coach Cal – “He’s been a mentor, he’s been a friend, he’s thrown me a life preserver. When I got fired in New Jersey, he was the first call and he said, ‘Cal, I want you to come down and join me in Philadelphia.’ He didn’t need me; he wanted to help me get going again.”

What is the hardest coaching decision you’ve ever made? – Edward

Coach Cal – “When you’re making a decision that is going to influence a young player’s future. They screw up so many times that you’ve got to let them go; you’ve got to suspend them or you’ve got to say, ‘You can’t be here.” I don’t do that lightly. Those decisions that impact a young players life – you toss, you turn, you sweat, you talk to your wife, you pray to make sure you’re doing everything you can to save a young man before you let him go.”

If you could change any rule in college basketball, what would it be and why? -- Tye

Coach Cal – “Anything that’s judgment, that’s in the hands of the officials, I want it to be clear. I’d like to have the NBA line underneath the basket for charges. If you’re in there, it’s a block, I don’t care. If you’re out of there and in position, it’s a charge. I don’t think we should have the five-second rule.”

Does public criticism get to you personally? Do you listen, watch and read any of it? Does it motivate you? – Eva

Coach Cal – “I’ll tell you who it would make mad is my wife. I try not to read it, even if it’s a good article. The best thing you can do in this profession is coach your team. All the other stuff doesn’t matter. If you’re worried about what they’re saying in the stands, you’ll be sitting up there with them shortly.”

What is the single most important piece of advice you have for aspiring college basketball coaches like myself? – Chris
Coach Cal – “If you make it about the kids, if they know you care and you’re truly about them, you’ll always have a job. They’ll always fight for you. They know I love them, they know I care about them and they know I have their best interests at heart. So they play for me.”

Outside Rupp, what is the loudest arena you’ve ever coached in during your career? – Karen
Coach Cal – “Allen Fieldhouse. Don’t even give me anything else – it isn’t close. It’s an air hanger. When the sound hits anywhere on that roof it comes straight back on the court. It is so loud you can feel it on your body. Other than Rupp – Rupp is the greatest – Allen Fieldhouse is one of the loudest and most intense buildings I’ve coached in.”

You told us you like to do the Dougie before big games. I have to see this. Care to show us, Coach? – Steve

Coach Cal – “The next chat we have, Matthew Mitchell and I are going to do the Dougie together. So you’re going to have to come back and watch us.”