WWhen it comes to hitting the road two words The Tigers have been able to speed to their games come to mind in describing how the Tigers travel on Northwest Airlink’s new fleet of Canadair Re- ... First Class. gional Jets (pictured below). This 50-seat aircraft is capable of flying nearly 2000 miles (roughly Mem- Being located in a hub city for Northwest Airlines is phis to Seattle) at speeds exceeding 500 mph. an enormous advantage for The University of Mem- The CRJ’s interior features comfortable leather seat- phis when it comes to ing, overhead bin storage and other amenities team travel. And the normally found on much larger jet aircraft. The CRJ coordination of travel is also among the world’s most quiet jets, providing has another distinctive those on the ground and on-board with un- edge as the U of M matched comfort. plays in Conference USA, a league top While on the road the Tigers stay in accommoda- heavy with universities tions of the highest standard and in many cases, located in major metro- give the squad an opportunity to explore new lo- politan areas. cales. When the U of M travels Each of the past three seasons the Tigers have been commercially, the Tigers able to explore New York’s Times Square during are usually just one flight appearances in the NIT and the Coaches vs. Can- away from landing in cer Classic. The U of M returns to New York and Madi- the city they will play the son Square Garden this year, playing Wake Forest following day. It has in the CVC Classic. meant the team has been able to go to During the past five years, Memphis has also class the day before a played in tournaments in Maui, Hawaii and Puerto game and, in many Rico. And along the way, the Tigers have stayed in During this year’s Coaches vs. Can- cer Classic, the Tigers will stay at the cases, practice at hotel properties along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Hilton New York at Rockefeller Center, home before traveling. and just a short walk from New Orleans’ French just a block from Fifth Avenue shop- Quarter. ping. The Tigers also use char- ter flights and often fly Memphis also ventures to Chicago, Cincinnati, New with another hometown team, Northwest Airlink. Orleans and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex dur- Headquartered in Memphis, Airlink has over 2,300 ing the season. The Tigers also have road games employees. scheduled at the University of Illinois and Villanova University in Philadelphia. Memphis and John Calipari IIn 11 collegiate coaching seasons, Univer- Calipari has also been responsible for raising money and sity of Memphis fourth-year coach John Cali- making donations for improvements at the U of M’s tennis pari has led his teams to 10 postseason ap- complex, air conditioning in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse pearances. Calipari’s teams have ap- and having courts resurfaced for use by Memphis students peared in the NCAA Tournament six times, for outdoor basketball. advancing to the Final Four in 1996. Four other squads have appeared in the NIT, in- Not only did Calipari secure a shoe and apparel con- cluding Memphis’s 2002 NIT championship tract for the basketball pro- squad. Through 11 collegiate seasons, only gram with Reebok, he also four coaches in the history of the NCAA have has helped with similar ar- won more games. rangements for several Olympic sports pro- However, Calipari’s success on the basket- grams at the University. ball court has been a microcosm to what he has meant to the U of M and the Mem- When he arrived, the phis community. University of Memphis had just opened a new Early in his tenure at the U of M, Calipari practice facility. In the began developing a relationship with Mem- past two years Calipari phis-based FedEx. The overnight courier has has directed improve- employed Memphis student-athletes in its ments which makes the internship program during the past four sum- Larry O. Finch Recre- mers. It is a program where the Tigers gain ation Facility one of the valuable experience in an area related to best of its kind and on a their field of study. scale with some of the top practice facilities in Calipari has also founded a program the NBA. Memphis’s locker called NetWorks. The program brings to- room at The Pyramid has also gether business leaders from throughout the been renovated. Lockers similar to community to network, find employment those in the Finch Center have been opportunities and place former U of M play- built in the arena while renovations ers following their playing careers. have also included a new lounge and meeting room with theater Calipari has made several financial contri- seating. butions to the University and has been hon- ored by the Friends of the Ned McWherter Away from the University, Cali- Library on the U of M campus. He presented pari is a sought after speaker. the U of M a check for $40,000 which re- He has made countless ap- sulted from a partnership between Calipari pearances on programs and Pace Cooper, president and CEO of such as The Daily Word with Cooper Companies, the owner of the res- Jim Rome, ESPN’s Outside taurant, Cal’s Championship Steakhouse in the Lines and CNN’s Sports the Hilton East Memphis. Tonight. At the conclusion of his first season at Mem- Calipari begins his 12th phis, Calipari joined several area business season as a collegiate leaders to form the Y.E.S. Foundation, an or- coach ranked 11th on ganization designed to educate middle the NCAA’s winningest school students about the importance of active coaching list academics and athletics. Y.E.S., an acro- with a .721 winning nym for Youth Education Through Sports, held percentage. its first camp on the U of M campus in Au- gust of 2001. Over 25 schools are currently taking part in the program. What Memphis Community Leaders Are Saying About Coach Calipari and U of M Basketball... Memphis City Mayor Dr. W.W. Herenton...“University of Memphis basketball and Coach John Calipari provide so much for our community. Not only are they a major source of sports excitement and fulfillment for Memphis sports fans, but their efforts in improving the community and changing lives are a great testament to what Coach Calipari and Tiger basketball are all about.” Shelby County Mayor A.C Wharton...“Tiger basketball always has been a focal point of community support and unity in Memphis, and Coach Calipari has played a vital role in helping to spread that community spirit beyond the basketball court. He reminds people why they are fans and what it means to be a Memphis Tiger.” United States Congressman Harold Ford, Jr...”The University of Memphis basketball program is what college basketball is all about - big-time competition within a close-knit community of fans and group of supporters. Coach Calipari, his staff and these student-athletes are taking the proud tradition of Tiger basketball to new levels within the community and on the hardwood. ” David J. Bronczek, President and C.E.O. FedEx Express...”The University of Memphis is very important to Memphis and very important to FedEx. Coach Callipari and his team are a great rallying point and unifying force in our community. Their performances on a national stage and their unselfish work in our community have been a source of pride for everyone who lives and works in our city.” Gary Shorb, President and C.E.O. Methodist Healthcare...”John Calipari has been an addition that Memphis and the University of Memphis needed. He is an outstanding leader - giving his time, energy and commitment to making the basketball program a national contender and Memphis a city that we can all be proud of. He has worked hard to help the children at LeBonheur since his arrival, and for that we are extremely greatful. Allie Prescott, Chairman of YES Foundation... “Coach John Calipari’s vision led to the birth of the YES Foundation, a program working with approximately 100 boys and girls basketball players from middle schools on the low performing list. This program uses the “hook” of athletics to motivate these children to enhanced academic achievement. These student athletes look up to Coach Cal and he is the ultimate inspiration which makes this program such a success. Everyone in our city knows that our future depends on the success of the children, and Coach Cal and his foundation are having an impact on the lives of these kids every single day.” Kevin Kane, President Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau...“Since his arrival in Memphis, John Calipari has become not only an ambassador for the University of Memphis and its basketball program, but also an ambassador for our city as well. He has embraced the community and helped place a national spotlight on everything that is great about Memphis, Tennessee.” Mary McDonald, Superintendent Catholic Schools...“Coach Calipari builds more than basketball programs, he builds lives. John Calipari epitomizes the spirit of love and giving in sharing his time, talent and treasure with children throughout the greater Memphis community, particularly among the needy and disadvantaged in underserved areas of our city. We in the Catholic Schools are grateful to Coach Calipari for his selfless dedication to education and his commitment to strengthening family and community life in Memphis.” Ken Bennett, Executive Director Street Ministries...“Through the YES Foundation and the Reebok/ Memphis Basketball Initiative, Coach Cal has leveraged his influence to make a radical difference in the quality of life of our kids here at STREETS Ministries.