Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari is a proud father of three kids, two daughters, Erin and Megan Calipari, and one son, Brad Calipari.
All of the college basketball coach’s children have grown up. Instead of staying in their Hall of Fame coach father’s shadow, the Calipari siblings have pursued their own dreams and careers.
Highlights
- Erin Calipari is an associate professor of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University and the Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research.
- Megan Calipari is a French pastry chef and recipe developer who owns Earthly Bakers Co. in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Brad Calipari, a former basketball player, currently directs On-Court Player Development for the Vanderbilt men’s basketball team.
Renowned basketball coach John Calipari and his wife, Ellen Calipari (née Ellen Higgins), have been married for nearly four decades.
The couple first met at the University of Kansas. John was working as an assistant basketball coach and Ellen was a secretary in the Kansas athletics office.
John and Ellen began dating after Ellen parted ways from her first husband. She was previously married to NFL player Nolan Cromwell.
The couple walked down the aisle in June 1986. They have been together ever since and have raised three kids together.
The married duo often express their love and gratitude for one another via social media posts. While celebrating their 37th marriage anniversary, John shared a precious picture and wrote:
“I have been blessed to have her beside me through our journey. As a wife, confidant and mother, she has worked overtime to keep us all moving forward. She has treated all of our players over the years as her sons and was protective of them EVEN TO ME!! “Quit yelling at Demarcus!” Lol Love you Ellen!! “
John Calipari
Moreover, Mrs. Calipari referred to her spouse as her roommate and wished him a happy birthday.
“Today is JOHN’S birthday! 🥳 He’s my Roommate!🥰 He’s a girl dad, he’s a boy dad, a dog dad & a cat dad! He’s a good human! Very Happy Birthday Roommate! I love you! 😘❤️“
Ellen Calipari
Erin Calipari Has Established Herself As A Leading Neuroscientist
John Calipari’s firstborn, Erin Calipari, is an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University.
She is associated with multiple departments within the institution, including the Department of Pharmacology, the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the Vanderbilt Brain Institute.
The daughter of the collegiate basketball coach is also the Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research. Her research mainly focuses on understanding the brain circuitry involved in reward and motivation.
Her goal is to develop better treatment for conditions like addiction, depression, and anxiety.
Erin earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Wake Forest School of Medicine and completed her postdoctoral training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Furthermore, the eldest Calipari played softball, basketball, and hockey while attending White Station High School. She also played basketball for the UMass Minutewomen.
Although she had a sports background, Erin chose to pursue her career in academics and research. She is reportedly the first person in her family to pursue a career in academia and research.
Megan Calipari Owns A Bakeshop In Boston, Massachusetts
Megan Calipari owns and runs Earthly Bakers Co., a vegan bakery in Boston, Massachusetts.
According to her shop’s official website, Megan is passionate about creating easy vegan recipes, from desserts to simple dinners to healthy snacks.
The Arkansas head coach’s second daughter graduated with high honors from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.
On the personal front, she is married to her husband, Michael Cotton, a firefighter in Hingham, Massachusetts. They tied the knot in 2017.
The couple shares a love for animals and nature and often posts pictures of their travels and their dog, Maverick, on Instagram.
Brad Calipari Is A Former College Basketball Player
Brad Calipari played collegiate basketball at the University of Kentucky from 2016 to 2018, playing under his father’s coaching.
After two seasons with the Wildcats, he transferred to the University of Detroit Mercy.
Brad decided not to pursue a professional basketball career after college. Instead, he chose to stay close to the sport in a different capacity.
John Calipari’s son is currently the Director of On-Court Player Development for the Vanderbilt men’s basketball team.
Before this role, he served as the Director of On-Court Player Development at Long Island University and worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Kentucky.
The former athlete earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media Studies from Kentucky and a master’s degree in Liberal Arts from Detroit Mercy.
Additional Information
- John Calipari’s net worth is $45 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He accumulated his fortune during his remarkable career as a coach.
- Born to Vince and Donna Mae Calipari in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, he is of Italian descent.
- He has two sisters, Terri and Lea Calipari.
