My father submitted this to the Lexington Herald-Leader and it was published in the Tuesday, March 31, 2009 edition.

Find an interim coach

Conventional wisdom dictates that the University of Kentucky immediately hire an eminently qualified coach in order to hold on to players and recruits.

Unfortunately, that person might not be available at this time. There may be a way, however, to resume UK's winning tradition while the search continues.

What if someone were to temporarily take the helm, someone who understands UK basketball, has proven himself as a collegian, a professional and as a coach, and has the name recognition and reputation equal to the task?

Such an iconic person could not only restore the luster to UK's storied program, but bring back sound and exciting basketball.

Both Pat Riley and Dan Issel meet these criteria, and they know what basketball means in the Bluegrass. Perhaps one of them would be willing to coach and help while the process of finding a long-term solution continues.

It would be far better to follow either of them than to arrive in the aftermath of controversy.

Whirlwind romances can lead to bitter divorces.

Wayne Collier
Lexington

The only thing that bothers me about the entire search for a new coach to serve as the caretaker for the University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Program is the speed with which it has been conducted. Please do not misunderstand me, John Calipari makes my list of first-tier coaches in America. He has the persona and the coaching moxie to lead Kentucky back to the top of College Basketball. He also has a rivalry with the coaches of UK's biggest rivals (Louisville and Tennessee). Any naysayers at this point wants the Athletics Department to be absolutely sure beyond a reasonable doubt that the right choice has been made.