Former Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua not following John Calipari to Arkansas

Former Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua not following John Calipari to Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE — Former Kentucky men’s basketball assistant coach Orlando Antigua is not following new Arkansas coach John Calipari to Fayetteville.

Antigua was initially reported to be joining Calipari’s staff by CBS Sports but was announced as an assistant at Illinois on Sunday. Antigua was an assistant at Illinois from 2017-21.

Former Louisville coach Kenny Payne, who has also worked with Calipari in the past, is the only new staff member to have been officially announced. CBS Sports reported that Chin Coleman, Chuck Martin, Bruiser Flint and Brad Calipari would also be on the new Razorbacks staff in the same report that included Antigua.

Antigua previously worked for Calipari from 2009-2014. He left to become head coach South Florida and rejoined the Wildcats in 2021.

He was part of the staff that brought five consecutive top-ranked recruiting classes to Kentucky. He was also a key part of player development with Oscar Tshiebwe and had three signees selected in the NBA Draft’s first round.

Antigua was on Calipari’s staff for the 2012 national championship, and he previously worked for Calipari at Memphis in 2008-09.