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Chris Woolard hired as Associate AD of Basketball Operations

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Chris Woolard has been hired as associate athletics director of basketball operations as announced by University of Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart on Thursday.  “I'm excited to have Chris on board as a member of our senior staff,” Barnhart said. “He brings a wealth of experience at both the school and conference levels and is a bright star in athletics administration.”

“The University of Kentucky is unique in that you really need someone like Chris who has experience at the highest level to be a part of our men's basketball program,” UK head coach John Calipari said. “He will be involved with all aspects of our program and will have an active role as a liaison for me personally in regards to our campus and the Commonwealth. We have had a strong working relationship in the past and I look forward to our future at UK.”

Woolard served as associate commissioner for sports services at the Conference USA office since August of 2008, after joining C-USA in July of 2004. In that role his responsibilities focused extensively on men's basketball as administrator and tournament director for the annual men's basketball championship.

“Chris is a very talented administrator and has a bright future in intercollegiate athletics,” Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky said. “He will do a great job at Kentucky.”

“I'm grateful to Mitch Barnhart and the University of Kentucky for this opportunity,” Woolard said. “I'll be able to work with one of the most well respected athletic directors in America, and one of the top basketball coaches and a future hall of famer in John Calipari. Working with C-USA basketball and at Murray State, I realize the passion that Kentucky fans have and I am excited to be a part of the Big Blue Nation. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Britton Banowsky for the opportunities he provided me during my time as associate commissioner at Conference USA.”

Prior to joining Conference USA, Woolard spent a year in private business after working eight years in the college basketball coaching ranks. He was an integral part of a highly successful Murray State men's basketball team from 1997-2003, serving as an assistant coach.

During Woolard's time at MSU, the Racers won three conference championships and made three NCAA appearances. At Murray State, he was responsible for recruiting, on-floor coaching, providing detailed opponent scouting reports and administrative duties such as academics, compliance, budget, scheduling, summer camps and team travel.

On This Day In UK Basketball History

On March 27, 1951, UK wins its third NCAA title, defeating Kansas State, 68-58, in the finals in Minneapolis.

 

On March 27, 1978, Jack “Goose” Givens scores 41 points as UK wins its fifth NCAA Championship, 94-88, over Duke in St. Louis.  Givens scored the last 16 points of the first half for Kentucky, bringing his first-half total up to 23 points. Givens poured in another 18 points in the second half.  Givens' helped lead the Wildcats to their first title in over 20 years.  More than 10,000 fans greet the team at Blue Grass Airport and 15,000 more celebrate at Memorial Coliseum

 

On March 27, 1993, Kentucky beat Florida State to advance to the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans. The victory completed a string of four games in which the Wildcats blitzed their Southeast Region opponents by an average of 31.0 points - the largest margin of victory by a team through four games en route to the Final Four.

 

On March 27, 2009, Billy Gillispie is fired as the Kentucky head basketball coach.

 

On March 27, 2011, freshman Brandon Knight scored 22 points and fourth-seeded Kentucky advanced to the Final Four for the first time since the 1998 title with a 76-69 win over second-seeded North Carolina in the East Regional final of the NCAA Tournament.  The last minute of the game became the DeAndre Liggins show, as he blocked a shot on defense, hit a game-winning three-pointer on offense, then blocked another shot on defense to seal the victory. He finished with 12 points..

 

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